Objective To explore the clinical significance of the brain natriuretic peptide(BNP) in evaluating the cardiotoxicity caused by daunorubicin(DNR) through studying the changes of the plasma BNP levels in children with acute leukemia who accepted the chemotherapy with DNR.Methods Thirty-one children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia(ALL) admitted in the year of 2002-2004 underwent the chemotherapy in DVLP project.The plasma level of BNP was measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) and the left ventricular end diastolic diameter(LVEDD) by color Doppler respectively before and after the administration of DNR.Simultaneously,electrocardiography(ECG) and cardiac muscle enzymes(LDH1,CK-MB) were measured as routine.Results The plasma level of BNP increased from(3.97?2.41) ng/L to(18.25?7.63) ng/L(P

This study investigated the protective effect of ATP on skeletal muscle satellite cells damaged by H2O2 in neonatal rats and the possible mechanism. The skeletal muscle satellite cells were randomly divided into four groups: normal group, model group (cells treated with 0.1 mmol/L H2O2 for 50 s), protection group (cells treated with 16, 8, 4, 2, 1, 0.5, or 0.25 mmol/L ATP for 24 h, and then with 0.1 mmol/L H2O2 for 50 s), proliferation group (cells treated with 16, 8, 4, 2, 1, 0.5, or 0.25 mmol/L ATP for 24 h). MTT assay, FITC+PI+DAPI fluorescent staining, Giemsa staining and immunofluorescence were performed to examine cell viability and apoptosis, and apoptosis-related proteins. The results showed that the survival rate of skeletal muscle satellite cells was decreased and the apoptosis rate was increased after H2O2 treatment (P<0.01). Different doses of ATP had different effects on skeletal muscle satellite cells damaged by H2O2: the survival rate of muscle satellite cells treated with ATP at 4, 2, or 1 mmol/L was increased. The protective effect was most profound on cells treated with 2 mmol/L ATP. Immunofluorescence showed that ATP could increase the number of Bcl-2-positive cells (P<0.01) and decrease the number of the Bax-positive cells (P<0.01). It was concluded that ATP could protect skeletal muscle satellite cells against H2O2 damage in neonatal rats, which may be attributed to the up-regulation of the expression of Bcl-2 and down-regulation of Bax, resulting in the suppression of apoptosis.

Adult ; Breast Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; secondary ; Carcinoid Tumor ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic ; pathology ; Carcinoma, Lobular ; metabolism ; pathology ; secondary ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Chromogranin A ; metabolism ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Keratins ; metabolism ; Neoplasms, Multiple Primary ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Sex Cord-Gonadal Stromal Tumors ; metabolism ; pathology ; Synaptophysin ; metabolism ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery

Objective To investigate the incidence and risk factors of chronic post-surgical pain (CPSP) and its effects on the quality of life in a large sample prospective study.Methods A total of 1098 patients of either sex,aged 18-70 yr,of American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status Ⅰ or Ⅱ,undergoing elective surgery,were enrolled in the study.Data regarding patient age,gender,body mass index,educational level,marital status,living situations,occupation,pre-surgical pain in the site of surgery,complications,type of surgery,surgery time and anesthesia method were recorded.The highest numeric rating scale scores within 3 days after surgery were also recorded.The patients were followed up at 3,6 and 12 months after surgery to record the development of CPSP.The patients were divided into CPSP group and non-CPSP group according to whether or not CPSP developed.Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the risk factors for CPSP,and the quality of life was scored.Results A total of 981 patients completed the 1 year follow-up after surgery,the incidence of CPSP was 35.7％,and the constituent ratio of the distribution of the course was as follows:3 months ≤ postsurgical course ＜ 6 months was 33.1％;6 months ≤ postsurgical course ＜ 12 months was 16.8％;postsurgical course ≥ 12 months was 50.1％.Female,no diabetes mellitus and pre-surgical pain in the site of surgery were the independent risk factors for CPSP (P＜ 0.05).Compared with non-CPSP group,the physiological function score,professional function score,body pain score,vitality score,social function score,mental health score and general health score were significantly decreased (P＜0.01),and no significant change was found in the emotional function score in CPSP group (P＞0.05).Conclusion The probability of development of CPSP is high and the course is long,and the quality of life score is decreased;female,no diabetes mellitus and pre-surgical pain in the site of surgery are the independent risk factors for CPSP.

Objective To investigate the feasibility of ~1H-MR spectroscopy(~1H-MRS)imaging to quantitatively detect fatty liver.Methods Twenty patients with fatty liver and 11 healthy volunteers underwent plain CT scan,conventional MR imaging and ~1H-MRS analysis.The blood lipid and liver function were tested on the same day as the MR examination.~1H-MRS sequence measured the peaks of H_2O and lipid,and the areas under the peaks.The relative contents of the lipid compound were calculated,and compared with the results of CT scan and liver function tests.Results The CT values of the normal group and the fatty liver group were(59?9)HU and(24?11)HU respectively.On ~1H-MRS a protruding high H_2O peak and a flat low lipid peak were observed in the normal group,while the protruding high H_2O peak and a high lipid peak appeared in the fatty liver group.The values of lipid peak in the normal group and the fatty liver group were(0.05?0.01)?10~5,(0.70?0.24)?10~5 respectively(t=4.32,P0.05),the areas under the lipid peak were(1.36?0.73)?10~9、(2.35?1.15)?10~9 respectively(t=5.21,P0.05).Conclusion ~1 H-MRS imaging is feasible to quantitatively detect liver fat and is a non-invasive method for detecting early fatty liver.

This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of "Trichosanthis Fructus-Allii Macrostemonis Bulbus" (GX) on phlegm and blood stasis syndrome (PBSS) rats combining the methods of network pharmacology and experimental verification. Animal experiment ethical requirements were approved by the Ethical Committee Experimental Animal Center of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine (grant number: AHUCM-rats-2021070). Based on the HPLC-Q-TOF-MS analysis and database, 69 chemical constituents of GX and 163 targets of GX for the treatment of phlegm and blood stasis-related cardiovascular diseases were obtained. Then, key targets such as serine/threonine kinase 1 (Akt1), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin 6 (IL6), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), cellular tumor antigen p53 (Tp53) were screened. Pathway analysis showed that the targets of GX in the treatment of phlegm and blood stasis-relate cardiovascular diseases were mainly involved in PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, sphingolipid metabolism, platelet activation, hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), ras-proximate-1 (rap1) and other signaling pathways. In addition, molecular docking analysis showed that apigenin, cucurbitacin D, linolenic acid and kaempferol and other key components had potential binding ability with Akt1, TNF, IL6, VEGFA and Tp53. In the animal experiments, compared to the phlegm and blood stasis syndrome group, GX could significantly improve the traditional Chinese medicine syndrome score, blood lipid, vascular endothelial structure disorders and reduce serum endothelin-1 (ET-1) level, increase serum nitric oxide (NO) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) levels, which could restore aortic endothelial function. In addition, the expression of intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in aorta could be significantly reduced, which could improve the vascular endothelial injury of aorta. Western blot revealed that GX could significantly decrease the phosphorylation levels of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and Akt in aorta. This study revealed the mechanism of GX in treatment of phlegm and blood stasis-relate cardiovascular diseases is consistent with the characteristics of multiple ingredients, multiple targets and multiple pathways. In addition, this study also clarified that the reversal of pathological of phlegm and blood stasis syndrome rats may be related to GX inhibiting PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, which could improve vascular inflammation and vascular endothelial function injury.

This study investigated the protective effect of ATP on skeletal muscle satellite cells damaged by H₂O₂in neonatal rats and the possible mechanism. The skeletal muscle satellite cells were randomly divided into four groups: normal group, model group (cells treated with 0.1 mmol/L H₂O₂for 50 s), protection group (cells treated with 16, 8, 4, 2, 1, 0.5, or 0.25 mmol/L ATP for 24 h, and then with 0.1 mmol/L H₂O₂for 50 s), proliferation group (cells treated with 16, 8, 4, 2, 1, 0.5, or 0.25 mmol/L ATP for 24 h). MTT assay, FITC+PI+DAPI fluorescent staining, Giemsa staining and immunofluorescence were performed to examine cell viability and apoptosis, and apoptosis-related proteins. The results showed that the survival rate of skeletal muscle satellite cells was decreased and the apoptosis rate was increased after H₂O₂treatment (P<0.01). Different doses of ATP had different effects on skeletal muscle satellite cells damaged by H₂O₂: the survival rate of muscle satellite cells treated with ATP at 4, 2, or 1 mmol/L was increased. The protective effect was most profound on cells treated with 2 mmol/L ATP. Immunofluorescence showed that ATP could increase the number of Bcl-2-positive cells (P<0.01) and decrease the number of the Bax-positive cells (P<0.01). It was concluded that ATP could protect skeletal muscle satellite cells against H₂O₂damage in neonatal rats, which may be attributed to the up-regulation of the expression of Bcl-2 and down-regulation of Bax, resulting in the suppression of apoptosis.
Adenosine Triphosphate ; pharmacology ; Animals ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Satellite Cells, Skeletal Muscle ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo study the advantages of Chinese medicine (CM) in treating insulin resistance and disorders of glucose and lipid metabolism in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and to explore its underlying mechanisms.

METHODSOne hundred PCOS patients were assigned to three groups: 40 patients in the CM group treated by CM, 30 in the WM1 group treated by metformin, and 30 in the WM2 group treated by cyproterone. Before treatment and at 3 cycles and 6 cycles after treatment, changes of body mass index (BMI), fasting serum insulin (FINS) and fasting blood sugar (FBG) levels as well as lipid spectrum were measured and the homeostasis model of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated. Meanwhile, the recovery of ovulation was observed.

RESULTSThere were 30, 22 and 23 patients in the CM, WM1 and WM2 group respectively completed their 6-month treatments. Levels of FINS, FBG, HOMA-IR, total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were lowered and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level increased in the CM group after 6-month treatment, showing significant difference as compared with the baseline (P < 0.05), and the difference in comparing with the WM2 group was statistically significant in terms of MBI, FINS, FBG, HOMA-IR, TC and LDL-C (P < 0.05). The ovulation rate was 53.3% (16/30) in the CM group, 27.3% (6/22) in the WM1 group and 21.7% (5/23) in the WM2 group, comparison between them showed a significant difference between the CM group and the WM2 group (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONCM is effective for the treatment of PCOS in improving insulin resistance, adjusting blood sugar and lipids levels and recovering ovulation.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Cholesterol, HDL ; blood ; Cyproterone ; therapeutic use ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin ; blood ; Insulin Resistance ; Lipids ; blood ; Lipoproteins, HDL ; blood ; Lipoproteins, LDL ; blood ; Metabolic Diseases ; blood ; Metformin ; therapeutic use ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; blood ; drug therapy ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo explore the surgical method and clinical curative effect of Ilizarov technique combined with limited surgical treatment for neurotrophic malnutrition equinovarus accompanied with weight-bearing area ulcer.

METHODSFrom July 2004 to December 2011, 21 cases of neurological disorders equinovarus with skin ulcer in weight-bearing area were treated including 14 males and 7 females with an average age of 21.3 years old ranging from 8 to 32 years. Among them,19 cases with talipes equinovarus were on account of spina bifid and 2 cases on account of spinal cord injury of lumbar sacral segment. Nine cases were on the left foot and 12 cases were right foot. The ulcer area in out-below side of the fifth metatarsal bone was in 6 cases, in basement of the fifth metatarsal bone in 5 cases,in lateral of calcaneocuboid joint 2 cases, and in lateral of subtalar joint in 8 cases. Surgical procedure included plantar medial release technique, tendo-chilles lengthenning, and three-joint partial osteotomy. During operation,the skin and soft tissue of ulcer were resected and the incision was sutured when the ulcer was in the lateral of subtalar joint, and ankle Ilizarov external fixation for extension was installed after correcting talipes equinovarus partially. For the legacy skin ulcer in weight-bearing area,the Shenrg-ji cream (Chinese characters) was used after operation for one time per day until the wound healed. Adjusting Ilizarov external fixation for correcting residual deformity until it is satisfaction. During this process weight-bearing walking was keeping.

RESULTSAll cases were followed up from 6 to 52 months with an average of 28 months. All ulcers were healing and no recurrence. The ulcer healing time was 14 to 36 days postoperative (26 days in average). Eighteen deformity feet were corrected satisfactorily, and recovered fully plantar foot, 3 feet appeared mild deformity after 1 year. Ankle joint activity appeared limited in 15 cases and got completely rigidity in 6 cases. The AOFAS increased from preoperative 34.0±7.2 to 86.0±8.5 postoperatively; 8 feet got excellent, 10 good,3 fair.

CONCLUSIONThe clinical effect of Ilizarov technique combined with limited operation and the Sheng-ji cream in correction of the talipes equinovarus with skin ulcer in weigh-bearing area on account of neurotrophic malnutrition is satisfactory, the surgical method is simple and the treating course in security, and serious complications can be avoided.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Child ; Clubfoot ; surgery ; External Fixators ; Female ; Foot Ulcer ; surgery ; Humans ; Ilizarov Technique ; Male

OBJECTIVE: In order to improve the accuracy and reliability in sudden cardiac death, the pathogenesis and relationship between the viral myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy were investigated. METHODS: Improved immunohistochemical technique was adopted to detect the expression of the dystrophin in myocardium from 25 viral myocarditis, 28 dilated cardiomyopathy and 17 control cases including normal, coronary atherosclerotic heart disease and hypertension heart disease as control. RESULTS: The positive rate of dystrophin protein expression in control group was 100%, that in viral myocarditis was 88%, and that in dilated cardiomyopathy was 57%, There were significant differences among three groups (P<0.05), and the correlation between viral myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy group (r = -0.526)were also found. CONCLUSION The myocardial cytoskeletal protein is disrupted in viral myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy, and the dystrophin protein may be involved in the pathogenesis of viral myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy. The viral infect and impair heart functions by cleaving host dystrophin proteins may ultimately contributes to the viral myocarditis to the converting from dilated cardiomyopathy.
Cardiomyopathy, Dilated/metabolism* ; Case-Control Studies ; Death, Sudden, Cardiac ; Dystrophin/metabolism* ; Enterovirus Infections/complications* ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Myocarditis/virology* ; Myocardium/pathology* ; Staining and Labeling