Objective To study the prevalence of the mtDNA A1555G gene mutation in Chinese population with nonsyndromic hearing impairment.Methods PCR-RFLP,directional sequencing of PCR products were applied in 325 patients with nonsyndromic hearing impairment and 50 normal controls.Results The mutation rate of the mtDNA A1555G was 14.5% (47/325),28 of 47 cases were homozygosis,19 of 47 cases were heterozygosis.The same mutation was not detected in the control subjects.Conclusion The mutation rate of the mtDNA A1555G is relatively high in the Chinese NSHI patients,the mutation type includes both heterozygosis and homozygosis.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of carvedilol and metoprolol on the expression of autoantibodies against cardiac β(1), β(2) and α(1) adrenergic receptors in aged patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and ventricular arrhythmia (VA).

METHODSSixty-eight patients with CHF and VA were randomly divided metoprolol treatment group or carvedilol treatment group on the basis of digoxin and diuretic treatment. All patients were followed up for six months cardiac function was monitored by echocardiography, VA by Holter and the three autoantibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTS(1) Systolic blood pressure and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) were significantly lower in carvedilol group than that in metoprolol group (P < 0.05). (2) The positive ratio of autoantibodies against the cardiac β(1) adrenergic receptor was significantly decreased compared with that of pre-treatment (P < 0.05) in metoprolol group. The positive ratios of autoantibodies against cardiac β(1), β(2) and α(1)-adrenergic receptors were all significantly decreased compared with that of pre-treatment (P < 0.01) in carvedilol group. Moreover, the incidence of VA was significantly decreased in carvedilol group (P < 0.05) but not in metoprolol group.

CONCLUSIONCarvedilol is superior to metoprolol on decreasing the incidence of VA in aged patients with chronic heart failure and ventricular arrhythmia.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; blood ; complications ; drug therapy ; Autoantibodies ; blood ; Carbazoles ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Heart Failure ; blood ; complications ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Metoprolol ; therapeutic use ; Middle Aged ; Propanolamines ; therapeutic use ; Receptors, Adrenergic ; immunology

Objective:To investigate the diagnosis, surgical methods, perioperative treatment and surgical results of Kommerell's diverticulum with double aortic arch in infants.Methods:From December 2014 to December 2019, 22 cases of double aortic arch combined with Kommerell diverticulum were operated in our hospital, 14 males and 8 females, with an average age of (13.7±11.6) months (1-36 months) and mean body mass of (9.8±3.4)kg (5-20 kg). The children had respiratory symptoms such as asthmatic suffocation, shortness of breath, repeated respiratory tract infection and chronic cough before operation. All patients underwent cardiac CT examination. The average diverticulum was 8 mm×9 mm, in the trachea The average compression degree of the lower segment was 56%±16% (30%-80%). The distal part of the left arch was atresia and Kommerell's diverticulum was found in all patients. The operation methods were left aortic arch separation, ligament separation and diverticulectomy. In one case, tracheal stent was placed simultaneously during the operation because of severe tracheal malacia.Results:The average time in the ward was(1.4±0.8)days (1-4)days, and the average time in hospital was (6.7±2.8)days (4-13 days). The average follow-up period was (25.5±16.9) months (2-60 months). During the follow-up period, 18 children had no persistent respiratory symptoms, and 4 children had only slight respiratory symptoms.Conclusion:Kommerell's diverticulum can also be combined with double aortic arch. The operation method is to separate the aortic arch and ligament at the atresia end and resect the diverticulum at the same time. It has a good early prognosis and may eliminate the residual symptoms and late complications.

Objective:To investigate the morphological characteristics and operative methods of mixed total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC), and to analyze the risk factors of postoperative death.Methods:From January 2011 to January 2019, 17 cases of mixed TAPVC were operated in Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Beijing Children′s Hospital, Capital Medical University, with 10 males and 7 females.The average age was (4.4±3.8) months (1-15 months) and the average body mass was (5.6±1.7) kg (3.5-10.0 kg), including 1 case of ventricular septal defect, 17 cases of atrial septal defect and 15 cases of ductus arteriosus.Preoperative pulmonary vein stenosis was discovered in 4 cases and severe pulmonary hypertension was in 10 cases.A total of 5 cases needed ventilator support before operation, and 2 cases needed emergency operation.The diagnosis was confirmed by color Doppler ultrasound and CT before operation.There were 2 cases of type Ⅰ (type 2+ 2), 13 cases of type Ⅱ (type 3+ 1), and 2 cases of type Ⅲ (anatomic variant).Results:All the patients were treated through operation.The principle of operation was to correct all pulmonary veins to the left atrium.The cardiopulmonary bypass time was (182.3±122.8) min, the aortic occlusion time was (84.3±15.9) min, the postoperative ventilator support time was (92.9±70.0) h, and the monitoring room time was (6.9±4.9) d. In this group, 3 cases died in hospital (17.6%) and 1 case died out of hospital (5.9%).Conclusions:The mortality of mixed TAPVC type Ⅲ was high, while preoperative pulmonary vein stenosis, severe pulmonary hypertension and the combination of sub-cardiac type were the important risk factors of death.The operation mode depends on the anatomic drainage mode, so individualized operation is recommended.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of AP-1 Decoy on matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP-1) imbalance induced by bleomycin-A5 (BLM-A5) in pulmonary fibroblasts.

METHODSPulmonary fibroblasts were primary cultured, and transferred with AP-1 Decoy before treated with BLM-A5. MMPs activity in medium was determined by gelatin zymography. Protein content of TIMP-1 in medium was detected by ELISA. Expression of MMP-2 mRNA and TIMP-1 mRNA were determined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSBLM-A5 induced the increase in activity of MMP-2 at 12 h [A: (0.77 +/- 0.08) vs (0.65 +/- 0.07) P < 0.05], but it was suppressed by AP-1 Decoy [A: (0.68 +/- 0.05)]. BLM-A5 up-regulated the expression of protein and mRNA of TIMP-1 after 12 h, and 24 h [(39.3 +/- 4.3), (46.3 +/- 4.8) ng/ml vs (28.9 +/- 2.7), (31.6 +/- 2.4) ng/ml] and [Absorbance ratio to beta-actin: (0.94 +/- 0.13, 1.08 +/- 0.06) vs (0.76 +/- 0.07, 0.75 +/- 0.08)] (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) but AP-1 Decoy modulated the up-regulation. All these indexes in AP-1 Decoy group had no significant difference in contrast to the normal group. Mutant AP-1 Decoy had not the same function as AP-1 Decoy on the expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-1 in pulmonary fibroblasts.

CONCLUSIONAP-1 Decoy inhibits the increase in MMP-2 activity and the up-regulation of TIMP-1 induced by BLM-A5 in pulmonary fibroblasts.

Bleomycin ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Fibroblasts ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Humans ; Lung ; cytology ; metabolism ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; metabolism ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; metabolism ; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 ; metabolism ; Transcription Factor AP-1 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe syndrome types of Chinese medicine (CM) and distribution features of acute infectious diarrhea patients.

METHODSA retrospective study was performed in 465 acute infectious diarrhea patients. The distribution of CM syndrome and syndrome types in different seasons and genders were analyzed.

RESULTSLack of appetite [381 (81.94%)], fatigue [350 (75.27%)], abdominal pain [338 (72.69%)], tenesmus [325 (69.89%)], anal scorching hot [276 (59.35%)], nausea [25 (55.48%)], diarrhea [249 (53.55%)], short yellow-urine [240 (51.61%)], thirsty [210 (45.16%)], and abdominal distention [206 (44.30%)] were most often seen. The syndrome distribution were sequenced as intestinal damp heat syndrome [268 (57.63%)], dyspeptic retention in intestine and stomach syndrome [106 (22.80%)], cold-damp invading exterior syndrome [47 (10.11%)], Pi-Wei qi deficiency syndrome [23 (4.95%)], cold-damp disturbing Pi syndrome [21 (4.52%)]. The incidence ratio of intestinal damp heat syndrome was the highest in autumn (P < 0.01), while that of cold-damp invading exterior syndrome was the highest in winter (P < 0.01). Cold-damp disturbing Pi syndrome was more often seen in females than in males (P < 0.01), and its incidence ratio was the highest in autumn (P < 0.05). The incidence ratio of dyspeptic retention in intestine and stomach syndrome was the highest in winter (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSIntestinal damp heat syndrome was the most often seen in acute infectious diarrhea. Incidence ratios of in- testinal damp heat syndrome and cold-damp disturbing Pi syndrome were higher in autumn, while those of cold-damp invading exterior syndrome and dyspeptic retention in intestine and stomach syndrome were higher in winter. Cold-damp disturbing Pi syndrome was more often seen in females.

Diarrhea ; diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Retrospective Studies ; Seasons

Objective To observe the effects of mild hypothermia on the heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), interlukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in blood and cerebrospinal fluid in patients with cerebroma and explore the molecular mechanism of hypothermia on cerebral ischemia. Methods Forty patients, selected for cerebroma resection under microscopy, were randomized innormothermia group (n=20, 36.6±0.4 ℃) and hypothermia group (n=20,34.8±0.6 ℃). These temperatures were guaranteed by air temperature control blanket. Jugular venous blood and cerebrospinal fluid were collected before the anesthesia induction (T1), 1 h after opening the endocranium (T2) and 24 h after the operation (T3). The content of HSP70, IL-6 and TNF-α in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid was measured by ELISA, and the results were statically analyzed. Results The core temperature in the hypothermia group was decreased significantly from starting the operation to the end of tumor resection as compared with that in the normothermia group (P<0.05). The level of HSP70 in blood or cerebrolspinal fluid presented an increasing trend in both groups, and the level of HSP70 at T2 and T3 in the hypothermia group was significantly higher than that in the normothermia group (P<0.05). Compared with those in the normothermia group, the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in blood or cerebrospinal fluid at T2 and T3 in the hypothermia group were significantly lower (P<0.05). At T1 and T2 in the normothermia group, the content of HSP70 in cerebrospinal fluid was obviously higher than that in blood (P<0.05).Conclusion Mild hypothermia can increase the expression level of HSP70 in blood and cerebrospinal fluid and decrease the level of IL-6 and TNF-α in blood and cerebrospinal fluid. HSP70 in cerebrospinal fluid might be more sensitive than that in blood in presenting the brain injury.

In this paper, one method was introduced, which was a combination of the cue-related morphine addiction model and a technique for obtaining chronic extracellular recordings of single unit in freely moving rats. With the combination and improvement of this technique, we have successfully applied this new method to study the neuronal activity of the hippocampus CA1 region in morphine withdrawal rats. In all, we found some more accurate and objective cellular characteristics of hippocampal neurons, and considered these characteristics as one of electrophysiological indexes of morphine addiction rats.
Action Potentials ; physiology ; Animals ; Electrophysiology ; instrumentation ; Hippocampus ; physiopathology ; Morphine Dependence ; physiopathology ; psychology ; Neurons ; physiology ; Rats ; Substance Withdrawal Syndrome ; physiopathology ; psychology

Objective::To observe the effect of Guizhitang with different proportions of Cinnamomi Ramulus and Paeoniae Alba Radix on the expressions of transforming growth factor-β₁(TGF-β₁)/Smads signaling pathway and interleukin-10(IL-10), IL-6 and tumour necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)related inflammatory cytokines in salt-sensitive hypertensive rats, in order to explore the mechanism of Guizhitang in improving myocardial fibrosis in salt-sensitive hypertensive rats. Method::Totally 40 male 6-week-old salt-sensitive rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: the normal control group, the model group, the 1∶1(RC/peony)Guishao group, the 1∶2 Guishao group, and the 2∶1 Guishao group, with 8 in each group. The normal control group was fed with normal salt diet, while the other four groups were fed with high-salt diet. After 4 weeks of feeding, the rats were given intragastric administration, the normal control group and the model group were given the same amount of normal saline, and the 1∶1 Guishao group, the 1∶2 Guishao group and the 2∶1 Guishao group were given 4.0, 5.5, 5.5 g·kg^-1 of Guizhitang by gavage for 4 weeks. Blood pressure was measured once a week, left ventricular end systolic diameter(LVESD), left ventricular end diastolic diameter (LVEDD), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular short axis shortening fraction (LVFS) were detected by using echocardiogram. The pathological changes of myocardial morphology were observed by htoxylin eosin(HE)and Masson staining. The expressions of type Ⅰ and Ⅲ collagen in myocardial tissue of each group was detected by immunohistochemistry. The mRNA expression levels of IL-10, IL-6 and TNF-α in myocardial tissue of each group were detected by quantitative real-time fluorescence polymerase chain reaction(Real-time PCR). The protein expression levels of TGF-β₁, α-smooth muscle actin(α-SMA), Smad2, Smad3 and Smad7 in myocardial tissue of each group were detected by Western blot. Result::Compared with the normal control group, the blood pressure was increased in the model group at 8-15 weeks, LVESD, LVEDD were increased in the model group, while LVFS, LVEF were decreased in the model group. The collagen volume fraction was increased, immunohistochemistry showed the expression levels of type Ⅰ and Ⅲ collagen were increased, mRNA expression levels of IL-10, IL-6 and TNF-α were increased, the protein expression levels of TGF-β₁, Smad2, Smad3 and α-SMA were increased, whereas the protein expression of Smad7 was decreased (P<0.01). Compared with the model group, the blood pressure rise of each group of Guizhitang was delayed in 12-15 weeks, LVESD and LVEDD were decreased in Guizhitang group (P<0.01), LVFS, LVEF were increased in Guizhitang group (P<0.01), the collagen volume fraction was decreased in Guizhitang group (P<0.01), and the expressions of type Ⅰ and Ⅲ collagen were decreased in Guizhitang group (P<0.01). At the same time, the mRNA expression of IL-10 was increased in Guizhitang group (P<0.05, P<0.01), the mRNA expressions of IL-6 and TNF-α were decreased in Guizhitang group (P<0.01), and the protein expressions of TGF-β₁, Smad2, Smad3 and α-SMA were decreased in Guizhitang group (P<0.05, P<0.01), and the protein expression of Smad7 was increased in Guizhitang group (P<0.01). Compared with the 2∶1 Guishao group, the effect of the 1∶1 Guishao group in improving the above indicators was more obvious (P<0.05, P<0.01). Conclusion::Guizhitang with different proportions of Ramulus Cinnamomi and Poeny can alleviate the degree of myocardial fibrosis in salt-sensitive hypertensive rats. The mechanism may be related to the regulation of TGF-β₁/Smads signaling pathway and the reduction of inflammatory response. Besides, the 1∶1 Guishao group showed the optimal effect in reducing inflammation and improving myocardial fibrosis.