To investigate the changes of plasma adrenomedullin(ADM) and adrenotensin(ADT) levels and their clinical significance in the pathological process of congestive heart failure(CHF), plasma levels of ADM and ADT in 45 patients with CHF before and after treatment were measured by specific radioimmunoassay. The results indicated that before treatment, plasma levels of ADM in class Ⅱ and Ⅲ CHF patients were 51.46?4.52pg/ml, 70.39?3.22pg/ml and plasma levels of ADT in class Ⅱ and Ⅲ CHF patients were 29.98?1.13pg/ml, 33.45?0.91pg/ml, respectively,which were higher than those of the control subjects(24.12?1.59pg/ml and 24.89?2.19pg/ml, respectively)(P

Objective To investigate the effects of edaravone on myocardial fibrosis induced by isoproterenol (ISO) in rats, and to discuss the correlation between the level of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) and the myocardial fibrosis. Methods Forty male SD rats were randomly divided into five groups, namely control group, model group and edaravone groups (low, medium and high doses). Isoproterenol was used to establish the rat model of myocardial fibrosis. Edaravone groups were given edaravone [3, 5 and 10 mg/(kg · d)] to intervene for 14 days. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) were examined after 15-d treatment. The left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and collagen volume fraction (CVF) were examined. The expression of TGF-β1 was detected by Western blot assay and immuno-fluorescence method. Results The content of MDA and LVMI were significantly higher in model group than those of the control group (P<0.01),whereas the content of SOD was significantly lower in model group than that of the control group (P<0.01). Compared with model group, the expression level of MDA decreased with the increased intervention dose of edara-vone (P<0.05), while SOD expression level increased (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the level of SOD be-tween middle dose edaravone group and the control group. LVMI was decreased with the increased doses of edaravone ( P<0.01). There was no significant difference in LVMI between the high dose of edaravone group and the control group. Com-pared with the control group, the expression level of TGF-β1 was significantly increased in model group (P<0.01). The ex-pression level of TGF-β1 was reduced with the increased doses of edaravone. CVF was significantly increased in model group compared with that of control group (P<0.001). CVF decreased with the increased doses of edaravone in medium and high doses of edaravone groups, but they were higher than that of control group (P<0.01). TGF-β1 was positively correlated with MDA, LVMI and CVF (r=0.931, 0.879 and 0.930, P<0.001). SOD was negatively correlated with TGF-β1 (r=-0.892, P<0.001). Conclusion Edaravone can relieve myocardial fibrosis by inhibiting oxidative stress and TGF-β1 in rats.

AIM: To investigate changes of calcitonin gene-related peptide(CGRP) in myocardial stunning rats. METHODS: Rat in vivo myocardial stunning model was used. CGRP content in plasma and myocardium were determined by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Plasma level of CGRP increased significantly ( P

Objectives To study the changes of plasma levels of proadrenomedullin N terminal peptide(PAMP) in patients with congestive heart faillure(CHF) before and after drug treatment and its significance.Methods Plasma PAMP levels in 45 patients with CHF and 7 heathy control subjects were measured by specific radioimmunoassy.Results The plasma PAMP levels in patients with CHF were significantly decreased with the deterioration of cardiac function.Plasma PAMP levels in 45 patients in NYHA class Ⅳ(2 79?0 89pg/mL) were significantly lower than those in class Ⅱ(6 24?1 71pg/mL)?class Ⅲ(7 38?1 28pg/mL) and control subjects(8 56?2 44pg/mL)(P

Objective To investigate the clinical characteristics of Turner syndrome in patients with spondyloarthropathy.MethodsSix patients from our hospital were included and the clinical manifestations,laboratory parameters and imaging presentations were analyzed retrospectively and the relevant literature were reviewed.ResultsThe mean age of these 6 cases was (27±5) years.Two cases were spondyloarthropathy,3 cases were ankylosing spondylitis,1 was psoriatic arthritis.Five cases were complicated with peripheral arthriris,2 cases were complicated with inflammatory back pain,4 cases had vertebral activity limitation,3 cases had joint deformity.The karyotype of 6 cases was 45,XO.Six cases were complicated with osteoporosis.Conclusion Turner syndrome can be presented with spondyloarthropathy,arthritis,osteoporosis.Dysplasia of bone is common.

This article analyzes the current characteristic of cardiology teaching.In light of advantages of network education,it discusses the prospect of network-based education and some problems.

Objective To assess the value of plasma level of cystatin C(Cyst-C)and carotid artery plaque score(PS)in predicting significant coronary artery disease(SCAD)in patients with chest pain. Methods A total of 192 patients with chest pain were involved retrospectively. According to the coronary angiography results ,the patients were divided into groups of SCAD (n = 128) and non-significant coronary artery disease (NSCAD , n = 64). Analyses were done to discuss the association of Cyst-C and PS with SCAD and the predictive value of Cyst-C and PS for SCAD. Results Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that Cyst-C and PS were independent predictors of SCAD. The odds ratios(OR)associated with the Cyst-C(each 1 mg/L)and PS(each 1 mm)for prediction of SCAD were 1.329 and 1.197,respectively. The areas under the receiver-operating characteristic curves(AUC)for the Cyst-C and the PS to predict the SCAD were 0.654 and 0.688,respectively. The combination of Cyst-C and PS increased the AUC to 0.742. The optimal cut-off value of Cyst-C was 0.95 mg/L and had a sensitivity of 72.3% for SCAD. Similarly,the optimal cut-off level of PS was 3mm which presented a sensitivity of 70.7%. A Cyst-C ≥ 0.95 mg/L and a PS ≥ 3 mm had negative predictive values of 46.3% and 48.3%,respectively,for SCAD. By combining Cyst-C with PS ,the sensitivity and negative predictive value increased to 83.6%and 62.5%, respectively. Conclusions Cyst-C and PS are both correlated with SCAD. They are independent predictive factors for SCAD in patients with chest pain. Combination of Cyst-C and PS can improve the predictability ,which may increase the reliability of screening SCAD before cardiac catheterization.

Objective To discuss the treatment experience of adrenocorticotropic hormone independent macronodular adrenal hyperplasia (AIMAH).Methods The clinical data of 24 cases of AIMAH from August 1972 to December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed.The cases included 10 males and 14 females with a mean age of 43 (range 26 to 59) years.16 patients presented with typical Cushing syndrome (CS) and 8 patients had weight gain, hypertension or diabetes mellitus without any sign of CS.The circadian rhythm of serum cortisol was abnormal.Low and high dose dexamethasone suppression tests failed to suppress cortisol secretion.The preoperative CT scan showed bilateral enlargement of the adrenal glands with multiple macmnodules.14 patients underwent open surgery, including 5 cases of unilateral adrenalectomy, 6 cases of adrenalectomy combined with contralateral subtotal adrenalectomy and 3 cases of bilateral adrenalectomy simuhaneously.6 patients underwent conventional laparoscopic adrenalectomy,including 2 cases of unilateral adrenalectomy, 2 cases of adrenalectomy combined with contralateral subtotal adrenalectomy and 2 cases of bilateral adrenalectomy.4 patients underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic bilateral adrenalectomy.Results The postoperative pathological examination showed that all patients had bilateral adrenal macronodular or adenomatoid hyperplasia.During the mean follow-up of 68 months (range 3 to 192 months), the clinical symptoms of CS disappeared after surgery in all cases.7 patients who received unilateral adrenalectomy had urinary free cortisol and serum cortisol within normal ranges and no further enlargement of the contralateral gland was noticed.Among the 3 patients who received bilateral adrenalectomy simultaneously, 1 case died of adrenal crisis on the seventh day post-operation.The remaining 2 cases presented with adrenal insufficiency but returned to normal after glucocorticoid replacement therapy.Nelson's syndrome was not observed in other patients.Conclusions The use of bilateral adrenalectomy to treat AIMAH may involve risk.Unilateral adrenalectomy is recommended for an alternative treatment for AIMAH.Controlateral adrenalectomy with lifelong corticosteroid replacement or contralateral subtotal adrenalectomy may be performed if the symptoms have not improved or recurred after unilateral adrenalectomy.

Mink plasmacytosis, caused by Aleutian Mink Disease Virus (AMDV), poses a threat to the development of the animal fur industry. Neutralizing antibodies against AMDV may result in a persistent infection rather than providing protection for minks. To date,no specific methods to prevent or cure this disease have been developed. In order to eliminate mink plasmacytosis, antibody detection technology has been used globally as a dominant approach to screen for AMDV-positive minks. This paper introduces the classical technology, counterimmunoelectrophoresis and emerging technology in terms of AMDV antibody detection,and provides a glimpse into the future development of these technologies.
Aleutian Mink Disease ; diagnosis ; immunology ; virology ; Aleutian Mink Disease Virus ; immunology ; isolation & purification ; Animals ; Antibodies, Viral ; immunology ; Immunoassay ; instrumentation ; methods ; Mink

Objective To investigate the related risk factors caused the retained common bile duct (CBD)stones after laparoscopic cholecystectomy,to provide the evidence for preventing from retained common bile duct stones of laparoscopic cholecystectomy.Methods Selected 654 cases of laparoscopic cholecystectomy patients as the objects whom hospitalized in Beijing Chuiyongliu Hospital from January 2002 to June 2013.All cases were divided into the group of retained CBD stones (27cases) and the group of non-retained CBD stones (627 cases).Collected the potentially relevant factors of two groups with the retained CBD stones,including medical history of jaundice and pancreatitis,common bile duct internal diameter (B Ultrasound) ≥ 8 mm,acute cholecystitis,emergency surgery,gallbladder removal order,calot triangle adhesion,sludge calculus,stones neck incarcerated,fulltype stones,cystic duct thickening,cystic duct reserved≥ 1 cm,the minimum diameter stones ≤5 mm,the number of gallbladder stones ≥ 5,partial cholecystectomy,purulent bile.Statistics analyses was proceeded using the IBM SPSS 20.0.Result Through dichotomy logistic regression analysis to the univariate analysis results with statistical significance,sorted the results according to the influence degree,found the independent risk factors:common bile duct internal diameter (B Ultrasound) ≥8 mm,gallbladder removal order (retrograde removal),medical history of jaundice pancreatitis,cystic duct reserved ≥ 1 cm,sludge calculus,in total of 5 indexes,which caused the retained CBD stones after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.Conclusion There are several independent risk factors for retained CBD stoes after LC such as medical history of jaundice and pancreatitis,common bile duct internal diameter (B Ultrasound) ≥ 8 mm,the order of cholecystectomy (retrograde remoral),shudeg calculus and the remaining length of bile duct ≥ 1 cm.The surgeons should pay close attention to them and take appropriate measures in the preoperation and intraoperation of LC,which contribute to preventing the acurence of postoperative retaimed CBD stone.