Objective To investigate the effect of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of ventricular outflow tract septum on the left ventricular structure and function in experimental canine.Methods Healthy experimental dogs were used for this study.RFA of the myocardium at ventricular outflow tract septum was performed.Before RFA,thoracic ultrasound examination was used to determine the width of left ventricular outflow tract,the systolic interventricular septum thickness,left ventricular ejection fraction,etc.The ultrasound examination was performed immediately after RFA to check the above indexes.Ultrasound examination was employed one and 3 months after RFA to record the above indexes of the survived dogs,and pathological examination was made.Results Among the 10 experimental dogs,successful RFA was achieved in 9,and one dog died of ventricular fibrillation.In one dog RFA was successfully accomplished,but it died of respiratory inhibition due to over-deep anesthesia.Immediate success rate of surgery was 80％,eight dogs survived to the scheduled follow-up time point.The width of left ventricular outflow tract and the systolic interventricular septum thickness determined immediately after RFA as well as one and three months after RFA in the survived dogs were significantly different from the preoperative data (P＜0.05).Histopathologically,striking microscopic changes could be observed.No obvious changes in ECG and blood pressure were seen.Conclusion The results of this study indicate that RFA of ventricular outflow tract septum in experimental dogs is safe and effective,which provides useful parameters and experimental basis for further animal experiments and clinical trials.

OBJECTIVETo assess the efficacy of various therapeutic principles of TCM in treating patients with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS).

METHODSAdopting blinded controlled trial method, 218 patients with CP/CPPS were randomly assigned to 4 groups: Group A treated with Aike Decoction for smoothing Gan-qi; Group B with Bazhengsan Decoction for clearing heat and removing dampness; Group C with Qianliexianyan Decoction for promoting blood circulation to remove stasis; and Group D with placebo. The scores of NIH chronic prostatitis symptom index (NIH-CPSI), clinical symptoms, including pain, symptoms of urinary tract and quality of life (QOL), and TCM syndrome integral were estimated at the beginning, the end of the 2nd and 4th week in the study.

RESULTSCompared with the others, Group A showed a superiority in improving NIH-CPSI, scores of various clinical symptoms and TCM syndrome integral at the 2nd week, and improving NIH-CPSI, scores of pain and QOL at the 4th week (all P < 0.05), while the improvement on urinary tract symptoms and TCM syndrome integral in Group A at the 4th week were better than those in Group B and D, but insignificantly different to those in Group C, respectively. No adverse reaction occurred in Group A and D, but it did occur in the other two groups.

CONCLUSIONTCM therapy for smoothing Gan-qi shows good efficacy with quick initiating and high safety, it is an important principle for the treatment of CP/CPPS.

Adult ; Chronic Disease ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Double-Blind Method ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Pelvic Pain ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Phytotherapy ; Prostatitis ; complications ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; Syndrome ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects and mechanisms of high glucose on the phenotype transformation of rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).

METHODSVSMCs ere isolated from rat thoracic aorta and the 3rd-5th VSMCs were incubated with normal glucose (5.5 mmol/L), high glucose (25 mmol/L), or high glucose (25 mmol/L) + P38 inhibitor (25 mmol/L +SB203580) for another 24 hours. Then the gene expression of osteopontin (OPN), alpha smooth-actin (alpha-SMA), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9) were assayed by real time RT-PCR, the protein expression of P38 were assayed by Western blot.

RESULTS(1) High glucose promoted the phenotype transformation of VSMCs and up-regulated the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9. (2) High glucose promoted the phosphorylation of P38. (3) SB203580, the inhibitor of P38/MAPK signal pathway, inhibited the effects of high glucose on phenotype transformation and expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9.

CONCLUSIONHigh glucose may promote phenotype transformation of VSMCs via the signal pathway of P38/MAPK.

Actins ; metabolism ; Animals ; Aorta, Thoracic ; cytology ; Blotting, Western ; Cells, Cultured ; Glucose ; pharmacology ; Imidazoles ; pharmacology ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; drug effects ; Osteopontin ; metabolism ; Phenotype ; Pyridines ; pharmacology ; Rats ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

Acute Disease ; Humans ; Insecticides ; poisoning ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Poisoning ; etiology ; prevention & control

Water-soluble CdTe quantum dots synthesized in aqueous solution have been conjugated with peptide LyP-1 using N-Succinimidyl 3-[2-pyridyldithio]-propionate (SPDP) as a cross-linking reagent. Capillary electrophoresis (CE), UV-Vis absorption and photoluminescent (PL) spectra suggested that the peptide had been successfully linked to the QDs. The QDs-peptides conjugates could specifically recognize the lung adenoma cancer cells (SPCA-1), but did not recognize promyelocytic leukemia cells (HL-60).
Adenocarcinoma ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Electrophoresis, Capillary ; instrumentation ; methods ; HL-60 Cells ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; pathology ; Oligopeptides ; chemistry ; Peptides ; chemistry ; Peptides, Cyclic ; chemistry ; Photochemistry ; methods ; Quantum Dots ; Spectrometry, Fluorescence

Objective To study the effects of radical surgical treatment for early esophageal cancer, and to investigate the prevention and cure of their complications,cancer recurrence and metastasis.Methods Treatments of 240 patients with early esophageal cancer of Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2005 to January 2009 were retrospectively analyzed.The patients were treated by left thoracotomy,thoracic or cervical mechanical anastomosis surgical methods of treatment.Their postoperative adverse reactions,complications and 1 -,3-,5-year survival rates were observed and analyzed.Results The surgical resection rate was 1 00.00%. Complications included postoperative pulmonary infection (1 2 patients,5.00%), cardiac arrhythmias (1 patient,0.42%),delayed gastric emptying (2 patients,0.83%),pleural hemorrhage (1 patient, 0.42%),recurrent laryngeal nerve injury (2 patients,0.83%)and anastomotic fistula (1 patient,0.42%). One-year,3-year and 5-year survival rates after surgery were 1 00.00% (240 /240),97.9% (235 /240)and 95.8% (230 /240)respectively.The main causes of postoperative death were tumor recurrence and metastasis. Conclusion Timely surgery for early esophageal cancer can bring in good effect and long-term outcome,with little complication,which can obtain a good forward curative effect.

0.05).Conclusions SNP of 2350G→A in ACE gene is associated with MI,AA genotype is probably a genetic marker of MI in Han nationality.

BACKGROUNDThe aim of this study was to clarify the electrocardiographic characteristics of repetitive monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (RMVT) originating from the left ventricular outflow tract, and to describe the results of treatment with radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA).

METHODSRoutine 12-lead surface electrocardiography and electrophysiological studies were performed on 11 RMVT patients with no organic heart disease, who were subsequently treated with RFCA directed at targets identified by pace mapping.

RESULTSThe surface electrocardiogram QRS characteristics of RMVT included an atypical left bundle branch block and right axis deviation, with a low amplitude "rs" or "rS" pattern in lead I, an "rS" or "RS" pattern in V1, and a precordial R wave transition zone in V2 or V3. In 1 patient, a small S wave was observed in V5. Using pace mapping techniques, we selected the left coronary cusp as the ablation target. RMVT was eliminated in all 11 patients immediately after radiofrequency energy delivered. During a follow-up of 13 +/- 7 months, RMVT recurred in only 1 patient.

CONCLUSIONRMVT originating from the left ventricular outflow tract has specific electrocardiographic characteristics, and can be successfully and safely cured using RFCA directed at the left coronary cusp.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Catheter Ablation ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo evaluate surgical methods and results of extracardiac conduit total cavopulmonary anastomosis (EC-TCPA) without cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).

METHODSFrom May 2000 to April 2003, 11 patients with functional univentricle underwent off-pump EC-TCPA (no-CPB group). Their postoperative outcome was retrospectively compared with a 17-patient group who underwent EC-TCPA with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB group) over a concurrent time period.

RESULTSThere was 1 operative death in no-CPB group and 2 in CPB group; early postoperative hemodynamics appeared to significantly improve in no-CPB group. Blood and platelet transfusions decreased and blood plasma transfusion significantly lowered in no-CPB group compared with CPB group (P = 0.036). Postoperative courses of patients in no-CPB group were smooth and event free, and extubation time was substantially short Intensive cares unit stay (P = 0.04) and hospital stay (P = 0.02) postoperation were significantly shorter, hospital costs were significantly reduced (P = 0.004) in no-CPB group compared with CPB group.

CONCLUSIONSEC-TCPA without use of CPB is not a difficult procedure; the procedure results in improvement in postoperative hemodynamics, and decreased use of blood and blood products. It is a more efficient operation with more short recovery time and reduced hospital stay.

Adolescent ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiopulmonary Bypass ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Bypass, Right ; methods ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; physiopathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVETo assess the anti-inflammatory effect of Aike Mixture (AKM) on rats with nonbacterial prostatitis (NBP).

METHODSRat model of NBP was established by injection of Xiaozhiling Injection. The experimental rats were randomized into 7 groups: the three AKM groups (A1, A2 and A3), treated with high, middle and low dose of AKM respectively, the 2 positive control groups (C1 and C2), treated by Bazheng Mixture (BZM) and Qianliexian Decoction (QLXD) respectively, the model control group (Cm) and the sham-operative control group (Cso). The pathological changes in rats' prostate were observed by light microscope and transmission electron microscope.

RESULTSSignificant differences in the number and structure of acini, mesenchyma, as well as the degrees of anti-fibroplasia and inflammatory cell infiltration were shown between the treated groups (A1, A2, A3, C1, C1, C2) and the untreated groups (Cm, Cso), with statistical significance (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). However, the anti-fibroplasia and anti-inflammatory effects in A1 were better than that in the two positive control groups significantly (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSAKM is a new TCM drug functioned for dispersing Gan-qi in treating NBP. It shows a better efficacy than that of BZM and QLXD, the two Chinese herbal medicines for clearing heat with remove dampness and activating blood circulation to remove stasis, respectively. Aike Mixture; prostatitis; pathological observation

Animals ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; therapeutic use ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Fibroblasts ; drug effects ; pathology ; Male ; Phytotherapy ; Prostatitis ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley