Echocardiography was once clinically considered as a tool for diagnosing coronary artery disease with limited sensitivity and specificity. Recently with the developments of modern electronic technologies,limitations of poor image quality were overcome and several new technical modalities,such as color kinesis(CK),Doppler tissue imaging(DTI)and anatomic M-mode echocardiography(AME)have been demonstrated to be useful for enhancing the accuracy and clinical applicability of the echocardiography. These new noninvasive ultrasonic technologies,adding more direct and quantitative information on specific topics of cardiac function,may play an important role in the study of coronary artery disease.

AIM: The synergistic effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and endothelin- 1 (ET-1 ) on rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMC) proliferation was observed. The possible mechanism of the synergism was also investigated. METHODS: BrdU incorporation and cell counting method were adopted to value the pro - proliferative effect of VSMC. Western- blotting was used to observe the variation of bFGF and FGFR - 1 isoforms expression. RESULTS: bFGF and ET- 1 could promote VSMC proliferation separately, and synergistically in combination. The synergism was dose - and time - dependent. ET- 1 increased all the three bFGF isoforms and FGFR - 1 protein level in dose - and time- dependent manner. In addition, after exhaustion of intracellular PKC, the upregulation effects of ET- 1 on bFGF and FGFR - 1 expressions in VSMC both inclined. CONCLUSION: bFGF and ET- 1 had synergistic effect on VSMC proliferation. ET- 1 may increase the responsiveness of VSMC to bFGF through modulation of bFGF isoforms together with FGFR - 1, which was PKC - dependent.

BACKGROUND:Non-hematopoietic cell of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) or mesenchymal progenitor cells can differentiate into bone,cartilage,muscle,tendon,fat and bone marrow matrix in vivo and in vitro,thus becoming very valuable seed cells source in the field of tissue engineering.OBJECTIVE:To construct the tissue engineered tendon withⅠcollagen-polyglycolic acid as a scaffold and bone marrow MSCs as seed cells,and to observe the effect of tissue engineered tendon on repairing achilles tendon defects. DESIGN,TIME AND SETTING:Randomized controlled animal experiment was performed in the Xiangya Medical College of Central South University in 2003.MATERIALS:Healthy adult rabbits,irrespective of genders,weighing 1.5-2.5 kg,were offered by Animal Center of Xiangya Medical College,Central South University. Polyglycolic acid were purchased from Shandong Weigao Group Kanglida Medical Products Co.,Ltd (KLD Medical).SD rats were sourced from Department of Experimental Animals,Central South University.METHODS:Rabbit bone marrow was extracted to harvest MSCs with centrrfugation and adherence method,then bone marrow MSCs were isolated and amplified. Tail tendon was extracted from SD rats and prepared into type Ⅰ collagen solution,which was mixed and suture cultured with polyglycolic acid to construct collagen-polyglycolic acid scaffold. Other bone marrow MSCs,which were not induced in vitro,were incubated on collagen-polyglycolic acid scaffold to construct tissue engineered rabbit tendon models,with those without cells serving as controls. Thirty rabbit angle skins were cut open to separate tendon and produce a 3-cm defect. Fifteen rats in the experiment group was repaired with tissue engineered tendon,which was previously prepared with autologous bone marrow MSCs,while fifteen rats in the control group was given Ⅰ collagen-polyglycolic acid scaffold.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:Effect of tissue engineered tendon on repairing achilles tendon defects in rabbit.RESULTS:No matter whether contains autologous bone marrow MSCs,type I collagen-polyglycolic acid scaffold transplanted into animals exhibited column gel shape by general observation. At 4 weeks following transplantation,cordlike tissues were seen in the transplantation site,polyglycolic acid suture was degraded. At 8 weeks,the tissue engineered tendon tissues were cordlike shaped,white,lustrous and dense. They were well connected with receptor tendon tissues in the experiment group,without adhesion to peripheral tissues. In the control group,the tissues were slender and adhered to peripheral tissues. CONCLUSION:Using typeⅠ collagen-polyglycolic acid as a scaffold and bone marrow MSCs as seed cells,tissue engineered tendon can dramatically promote the repair of achilles tendon defects.

AIM: The synergistic effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) on rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMC) proliferation was observed. The possible mechanism of the synergism was also investigated. METHODS: BrdU incorporation and cell counting method were adopted to value the pro-proliferative effect of VSMC. Western-blotting was used to observe the variation of bFGF and FGFR-1 isoforms expression. RESULTS: bFGF and ET-1 could promote VSMC proliferation separately, and synergistically in combination. The synergism was dose- and time-dependent. ET-1 increased all the three bFGF isoforms and FGFR-1 protein level in dose- and time-dependent manner. In addition, after exhaustion of intracellular PKC, the upregulation effects of ET-1 on bFGF and FGFR-1 expressions in VSMC both inclined. CONCLUSION: bFGF and ET-1 had synergistic effect on VSMC proliferation. ET-1 may increase the responsiveness of VSMC to bFGF through modulation of bFGF isoforms together with FGFR-1, which was PKC-dependent.

Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effects of treatments of eye-retaining and enucleation for choroidal melanomas. Methods The clinical data of 44 patients (44 eyes) with choroidal melanomas after eye-retaining treatments and enucleation surgery were retrospectively analyzed. The metastasis, retention rate of eyeball after eye-retaining treatment, and visual acuity prognosis were observed and analyzed. In 44 eyes treated by eye-retaining therapy, transpupillary thermotherapy (TTT) was performed primaryly on 7 (15.9%),~ 106 Ru brachytherapy on 25 (56.8%), and local resection of tumor combined with ~ 106 Ru brachytherapy on 12 (27.3%).The average follow-up period was 13.3 months. Results Forty-four patients had no melanoma metastasis during the follow-up period. In 39 patients (88.6%) who had their eyes retained successfully, the retention rate of eyeball was 100%, 92.9%, and 83.3% in 6, 14, and 24 eyes with small, middle, and large tumor, respectively. In the patients treated by eye-retaining therapy, the visual acuity was ≥0.3 in 11 (28.2%), ≥0.05-

Objective To analyse the relationship between hyperglycemia and severity/prognosis after brain injury, and to provide evidences for clinical treatment and prognosis.Methods86 cases were divided into light (16 cases), moderate (24 cases) and severe (46 cases) injury groups based on Glasgow Coma Scale scores (GCS). The blood glucose was examined 48 hours, 1 week, 1 month and 2 months after injury. The results were analyzed according to the location/position of injury and the disability rating scale (DRS).ResultsThe blood glucose level in light injury group was normal. The blood glucose levels in moderate and severe injury groups rised more significantly than those did in light injury group. The hyperglycemia in severe injury group persisted over 2 months. There was positive linear relativity relationship between the DRS and the blood glucose levels 48 hours and 2 months after injury. The higher the blood glucose level was, the more the severity of the disability was and the worse the prognosis was. The blood glucose level was higher in the patients with abroad injury following brainstem dysfunction and/or blood breaking into ventricle, even persisting over a few months. ConclusionEarly hyperglycemia is a frequent phenomenon of the stress response to head injury, a significant indicator of its severity, and a reliable predictor of outcome.

Objective:To explore the therapeutic effect and mechanism of nicergoline on the severe traumatic brain injury. Methods:52 TBI patients were divided into the routine treatment group and nicergoline treatment group. Before and after rehabilitation treatment the SPECT and cognitive function were assessed. Results:The lesions were both decreased in nicergoline group and routine group in SPECT scanning, but there was no difference in statistics. The value of cognitive function of the nicergoline treatment group, especially function-oriented and memory, was higher than that of the routine treatment group(P<0.05).Conclusions:The nicergoline can improve cognitive function of the severe traumatic brain injury.

Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect of NSR siRNA on nerve regeneration following spinal cord hemi-transsection injury in rats. Methods Rats with T8 spinal cord hemi-trans-section were didded into 3 groups, ie, siRNA group, NS group and control group. SiRNA or NS was in-jected into lateral cerebral ventricle just after spinal cord injury. The therapeutic effect of NgR siRNA was evaluated by using BBB locomotor rating scale, retrograde horseradish peroxidase(HRP)tracing and HE staining. Results BBB locomotor rating scale showed that the recovery of the locomotor function of siRNA group seemed to be better than that of the other two groups from the 4th week, but there was no statistical difference. Retrograde HRP tracing showed a large number of positive cells in the anterior horn of spinal cord, with statistical difference compared with NS group and control group(P<0. 05). Eight weeks after spinal injury, HE staining showed disorderly distribution of the fibres in NS group and control group but serial fibres in the injury region in siRNA group. Conclusion NSR siRNA may promote the nerve regeneration following spinal cord injury.

Objective To identify the genotype of clinical stenotrophomonas maltophilia(SMA) isolates and investigate the characteristics of SMA in nosocomial infections.Methods Totally 165 strains of SMA were clinically isolated during the period of 2004 to 2007.Disc diffusion test(K-B method) was used for antibiotic susceptibility.qacE△1 gene was detected by polymerase chain reation(PCR).The gene homology in the SMA strains was analyzed by pulsed field gel electrophoresis(PFGE).Results Among the tested SMA strains 87.9% sourced from low respiratory tract infection.The antibiotics with more than 80% of sensitive rate against SMA were minocycline,trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and levofloxacin.The positive rate of qacE△1 gene was 13.3% in 60 tested strains.The analysis of gene homology for the 11 clinical strains showed that two genotypes from identical clone were found in both respiratory ICU and emergency ICU respectively.Conclusions SMA was an important pathogenic bacterium in nosocomial infections.The treatment for SMA infection is very difficult since its multi-drug resistance.More attention for effective sterilization and isolation of patients must be paid to prevent the transmission of SMA from same clone.

Objective:To study the significance of LDL immune complexes in the pathogenesis of acute coronary syndrome(ACS).Methods:Enzyme linked immunosorbent Assay was used to measure the plasma LDL-IC in 139 patients with coronary heart disease(76ACS;63NACS) and in 111 control subjects.The patients with coronary heart disease were divided into multi-vessel diseased group(2-vessel diseased group and 2 vessels more)and mono-vessel diseased group(1-vessel diseased group)by coronary angiography.Results:①LDL-IC level was higher in patients with ACS than that in patients with non-ACS[(2.78?1.08)AU vs(1.74?0.45)AU,P