Objectives To establish a model of carotid atherosclerotic (AS)stenosis in rabbits and to preliminarily investigate the expression of asparaginyl endopeptidase. Methods Fourteen New Zealand white rabbits were divided into either an model group (n = 8)or a sham operation group (n = 6)according to the random number table. The carotid intima was injured by operation in the model group. The rabbits in both groups were fed with high fat diets containing magnesium for 10 weeks. The rabbits were weighted and their blood lipids were tested every 2 weeks. At the end of the fifth and tenth weeks after procedure,the plaque and vessel stenosis of the rabbits were observed by MRI. At the end of the tenth week after proce-dure,the specimens were collected and sliced. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE)staining was used to observe the pathological changes. Immunohistochemical staining was used to analyze the expression of asparaginyl endopeptidase (AEP). Results One rabbit in the model group died of carotid artery injury. After being fed with high-fat diets,the body quality and the level of blood lipid were increased in the rabbits of both groups compared with those before procedure (all P < 0. 01). At the end of the fifth and tenth weeks after procedure,MRI revealed that the luminal stenosis rates in the operation group were 16 ± 11% and 53 ± 20% respectively. There was significant difference within the group (t = - 4. 83,P < 0. 01). MRI revealed no luminal stenosis twice in the sham operation group. HE staining showed intimal hyperplasia,AS plaque formation,lipid deposition in plaques,macrophage and smooth muscle cells migration and infiltration forming foam cells in the model group. No AS formation was observed in the sham operation group. The expression of AEP was higher in the rabbit carotid artery tissue in the model group,and it expressed rarely in the sham surgery group. The absorbance values were 0. 072 0 ± 0. 028 0 and 0. 002 0 ± 0. 000 9 respectively. There was significant difference (t = 6. 61,P < 0. 01). Conclusions The methods of injuring carotid intima combined with magnesium containing high-fat diet may exactly,reliably,and quickly establish an AS carotid artery stenosis model. AEP may associat with the occurrence of AS plaques.

Objective To investigate the clinical results of bilateral transpedicular kyphoplasty for the osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures with single balloon. Methods From March 2002 to February 2004, percutaneous bilateral transpedicular kyphoplasty with single balloon was performed in 15 patients, who presented with painful vertebral compression fractures. In the group, there were 6 vertebrae of 6 males and 11 vertebrae of 9 females, and the average age of the patients was 70.5 years with a range of 62 to 82 years. 17 osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures, which involved 8 T12, 7 L1, 1 T8 and 1 T11, were treated. Osteoporosis was identified in all cases by the measurement of lumbar bone mineral density (BMD) and the evaluation of radiographs. The average BMD was 0.603 g/cm2. CT scan showed the posterior vertebral wall intact in all patients, and MRI displayed low signal on T1WI and high signal on T2WI of the vertebral fractures. Results All patients experienced dramatic pain relief after the procedures. The mean pain score (VAS) decreased significantly from 8.3 preoperatively to 2.1 after operation. The mean vertebral body height restoration was 54.2%?34.1% on the anterior border, 60.5%?35.4% in the middle portion, and 40.7%?32.3% on the posterior border respectively. And the sagittal alignment was improved significantly, as the average correction of the Cobb's angle reached 9.5?. No cement leakage was found on X-ray, except one with less cement at the anterior vertebral edge, but no clinical symptom occurred. All the patients were available at the final follow-up, the mean period was 10.5 months (range, 2-48 months). Conclusion Bilateral transpedicular kyphoplasty with single balloon not only can provide effective pain relief and vertebral height restoration, but also can improve the sagittal alignment significantly. Its clinical outcome was satisfactory.

Objective Rapamycin (RAPA) is an anti-proliferative immunosuppressant and has been used to suppress rejection of transplanted organs. In present study, we observed the effect of rapamycin on epithelial-myofibroblast transition (EMT)of cultured HKC cells in vitro. Methods Cultured human proximal tubular epithelial cells (HKCs) were divided into three groups: blank control, treated with TGF-?1 (1 ?g/L) and treated with TGF-?1 (1 ?g/L) plus rapamycin (0.1, 1, 10, 100 ?g/L). The protein and mRNA for ?-SMA and E-cadherin in HKC cells were determined by Western Blot and RT-PCR.The mRNA level of Snail in HKC was detected by RT-PCR. Results Rapamycin dramatically abrogated TGF-?1 induced ?-SMA expression and restored E-cadherin expressionin HKC cells in a dose-dependent manner. At a concentration of 100 ?g/L, rapamycin almost completely blocked ?-SMA mRNA and protein expression induced by TGF-?1(1 ?g/L). Rapamycin also suppressed expression of ?-SMA in HKC cells at both mRNA and protein level in a time dependent manner.We also found rapamycin dramatically abrogated TGF-?1 induced Snail mRNA expression in HKC cells in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion Rapamycin may inhibit EMT of tubular cells in vitro. The downregulation of Snail expression might be one of the mechanisms of rapamycin blocking EMT.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the ability of high resolution magnetic resonance (MR) imaging at 3.0 tesla to depict the characterization of human carotid arterial vessel wall and detect atherosclerotic lesions ex vivo in comparison to histopathologic results. MethodsEighteen carotid arteries obtained from 9 elderly donors underwent fat-suppressed T1 - and T2-weighted MR imaging at 3.0 tesla MR system with a mouse coil. Corresponding histological sections were obtained for the comparison. Correlation between MR images and histopathologic slices was obtained by Pearson or Spearman correlation coefficient.Cohen K was computed to quantify the agreement between MRI and histopathologic findings.Results Lumen area,intima and media area measured on fat-suppressed T2-weighted images showed stronger correlation with the corresponding histopathologic slices [ MRI vs.histopathology:( 27. 53 ± 6. 77 ) mm2 vs.( 25.83 ±6. 69 ) mm2, r2 ＝ 0. 91,P2 ＝ 0. 024, ( 12.31 ± 3. 31 ) mm2 vs.( 12. 28 ± 3.71 ) mm2, r2 ＝ 0. 70, P2 ＝ 0. 020,Median 12. 29 mm2(Min 1.12 mm2, Max 33.18 mm2) vs.Median 11.62 mm2(Min 0.89 mm2, Max 32. 84 mm2 ), r2 ＝ 0. 74, P2 ＝ 0. 016, respectively]. The Cohen K score between the MR imaging and American Heart Association classifications was 0. 74, which corresponds to a good agreement. Conclusions 3.0 T high-resolution multi-sequence MRI can clearly show the structure of ex vivo carotid artery wall and allow quantitative assessment.Fat-suppressed T2Wimaging has a greater advantagein presenting atherosclerotic lesions.

Objective To investigate the effect of ?-lipoic acid on the expression levels of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells under high glucose concentration. Methods Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (ECV304) were randomized into control (NG) group,high glucose (HG) group and ?-lipoic acid group. Cells in the 3 groups were incubated for 48h with 5.5mmol/L glucose,30mmol/L glucose,30mmol/L glucose + ?-lipoic acid in a series of concentrations (50,100,200?mol/L),respectively. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the supernate was determined by the method of xanthine oxidase,and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) was measured with thiobarbituric acid as the substrate. The level of ICAM-1 in the supernate was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expressive levels of ICAM-1 mRNA were determined by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results Compared with the control group,the activity of SOD declined significantly and the contents of MDA and ICAM-1 increased in umbilical vein endothelial cells in HG group (P

[Objective] To investigate the effect of Kun'an Granule (KG) on serum hormone level in rats with hyperprolactinemia [ Methods ] Rats were randomized to five groups: group A ( mimic operation) , group B (model control), group C (bromocriptine), group D (low-dose KG) and group E (high-dose KG). Except group A, the other four groups were implanted with pituitary for modeling. Group C was treated with bromocriptine 1 mg/kg, group D with gastric infusion of KG 4 g/kg and group E with KG 12 g/kg. The treatment lasted 34 days. Serum levels of prolactin (PRL), testosterone (T), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and estrogen (E2) were detected before and after treatment and the differences between groups were compared. [ Results ] Serum PRL and T levels were increased and LH, FSH and E2 levels decreased in group B (P

Objective:To investigate the effects of pre-pregnancy health examination combined with standardized health care during pregnancy on the pregnancy outcome at advanced maternal age.Methods:A total of 300 pregnant women who visited the Perinatal Clinic of the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Shihezi University, China who received treatment between September 2018 and September 2019 were included in this study. They were divided into three groups according to pre-pregnancy health examination and heath care during pregnancy. In the observation group ( n = 78), pregnant women received pre-pregnancy health examination and health care during pregnancy on time and regularly. In the control group 1 ( n = 110): pregnant women did not receive pre-pregnancy health examination or regular health care during pregnancy. In the control group 2 ( n = 112), pregnant women received pre-pregnancy health examination or regular heath care during pregnancy. The pregnancy outcome was compared among three groups. The pre-pregnancy health examination and regular health care during pregnancy in women at advanced maternal age were correlated with gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes mellitus, premature delivery and other pregnancy risks. Results:There were significant differences in premature delivery (20.5%, 9.8%, 2.7%), gestational hypertension (23.1%, 12.5%, 3.6%), gestational diabetes mellitus (19.2%, 8.9%, 2.7%), premature rupture of membrane (17.9%, 10.7%, 3.6%), postpartum hemorrhage (12.8%, 8.0%, 1.8%), gestational anemia (19.2%, 8.0%, 2.7%) and placental abruption (7.7%, 8.0%, 0.9%) among control group 1, control group 2, and observation group ( χ2 = 16.047, 16.376, 14.724, 10.489, 8.781, 15.380, 6.744, all P < 0.05). The rate of cesarean section rate in the control group 1, control group 2, and observation group was statistically significant (70.5%, 44.6% and 27.3%, χ2 = 34.468, P < 0.05). There were significant differences in the incidence rates of macrosomia (15.4%, 8.9%, 2.7%), low birth weight infants (11.5%, 5.4%, 0.0%), stillbirth or late-term abortion (10.3%, 4.7%, 0.9%), neonatal asphyxia (16.7%, 7.1%, 1.8%) among the control group 1, control group 2 and observation group ( χ2 = 9.654, 12.840, 8.979, 14.284, all P < 0.05). Conclusion:The risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes is increased at advanced maternal age. Pre-pregnancy health examination combined with standardized health care during pregnancy can improve the pregnancy outcomes at advanced maternal age.