This study was aimed to evaluate the relationship between the changes of plasma intermedin (IMD) and atrial fibrosis in hypertensive patients with atrial fibrillation. During the period from 2010 to 2011, appropriate 150 subjects of out-patients (female 50%, male 50%) were selected in West China Hospital, Sichuan University, and were divided into three groups: the hypertension-only group, the hypertension combined with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation group and the hypertension combined with persistent atrial fibrillation group. Firstly, we collected the Physical examination results and medical history records of the patients. We then performed ultrasound cardiogram and blood biochemical tests on the patients. We also detected the plasma IMD and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) using ELISA. The results showed that compared with the hypertensive group, the plasma level of IMD, TGF-β1 and left atrium director (LAD) in the hypertensive combined with atrial fibrillation group were higher significantly. Compared with the paroxymal atrial fibrillation group, the levels of IMD, TGF-β1 and LAD were higher significantly in persistent atrial fibrillation group. Analysis of correlation and partial correlation showed that IMD was positively correlated with TGF-p1 (r=0.51, P<0. 001), IMD was positively correlated with LAD(r=0.59, P< 0.001), and TGF-β1 was positively correlated with LAD (r = 0.57, P < 0.001). The results suggest that IMD might suppress the pathophysiological process of atrial fibrillation.
Atrial Fibrillation ; physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; physiopathology ; Male ; Peptide Hormones ; blood ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; blood

Heavy alcohol consumption results in alcoholic liver disease(ALD)with inadequate therapeutic options.Here,we first report the potential beneficial effects of ginsenoside Rk2(Rk2),a rare dehy-droprotopanaxadiol saponin isolated from streamed ginseng,against alcoholic liver injury in mice.Chronic-plus-single-binge ethanol feeding caused severe liver injury,as manifested by significantly elevated serum aminotransferase levels,hepatic histological changes,increased lipid accumulation,oxidative stress,and inflammation in the liver.These deleterious effects were alleviated by the treatment with Rk2(5 and 30 mg/kg).Acting as an nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3(NLRP3)inhibitor,Rk2 ameliorates alcohol-induced liver inflammation by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome signaling in the liver.Meanwhile,the treatment with Rk2 alleviated the alcohol-induced intestinal barrier dysfunction via enhancing NLRP6 inflammasome in the intestine.Our findings indicate that Rk2 is a promising agent for the prevention and treatment of ALD and other NLPR3-driven diseases.

Objective: To analyze the microvessel density (MVD) and lymph node metastasis in the papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) with punctate or sheet calcification. Methods: Fifty PTC patients in the Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University from May 2015 to October 2017 were retrospectively enrolled in this study. All of the 50 PTC patients were divided into punctate calcification group (38 cases) and sheet calcification group (12 cases) according to the different features of pathological calcification in microscope examination. For the two groups, the central and peripheral zone MVD and the lymph node metastasis of each PTC nodule were compared. Results: For PTC nodules of punctate calcification group, the mean central and peripheral zone MVD were (51±7)/HP and (64±8)/HP, respectively. For those of sheet calcification group, which were (35±5)/HP and (49±6)/HP, respectively. The mean MVD in both central and peripheral zone of PTC nodules of punctate calcification group were significantly higher than those of the sheet calcification group (t values were 10.183 and 12.406, both P < 0.05). The neck Ⅵ area lymph node metastasis rates of the punctate and sheet calcification groups were 42.1% (16/38) and 8.3% (1/12), respectively. The lymph node metastasis rate of the punctate calcification group was significantly higher than that of the sheet calcification group (χ ² = 4.635, P < 0.05). Conclusion PTC nodules with different type of pathological calcification may have different invasion and metastasis, and PTC with punctate calcification is more likely to undergo local metastasis than PTC with sheet calcification.

Objective: To explore the clinical value of new rapid pathological diagnosis technology in biliary biopsy by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Methods: 7 patients with biliary biopsy by ERCP were selected. In the biliary biopsyoperation, a new type of rapid pathological diagnostic technique is used to perform cytological initial diagnosis of the biopsy tissue. According to the results of rapid pathological diagnosis of biliary biopsy operation, we analyzed the clinical value of new rapid pathological diagnosis technology in the biliary biopsy operation. Results: The new rapid pathological diagnosis technology requires little space and no pollution. The diagnosis takes about 2 to 3 minutes and does not affect the normal biopsy operation. 7 patients with biliary biopsy by ERCP under the assistance of this technique, 5 patients (71.4%) confirmed the requirement of biopsy quality and quantity for the first biopsy with the assistance of this technology and 2 patients (28.6%) met the requirements for biopsy quality and quantity after biopsy again. Conclusions Because of the blindness of biliary biopsy by ERCP, the quality and quantity of biopsy tissue are often not guaranteed. The new rapid pathological diagnosis technology can provide real-time pathological diagnosis during biliary biopsy by ERCP and improve the quality and quantity of biliary biopsy tissue, and the cost of this technology is low, which is suitable for popularization and implementation in hospitals at all levels.

Objective: To explore the clinical value of new rapid pathological diagnosis technology in the examination of cervical lesions in primary medical institution. Methods: In the Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, 25 cases of cervical scraping and 22 cases of cervical biopsy were selected.Twenty-five cases of cervical scraping scraped two wipers during operation, the results were compared with conventional pathological techniques and new rapid pathological diagnosis techniques.Twenty-two cases of cervical biopsy used a new rapid pathological diagnosis technique to perform cytological diagnosis of biopsy tissue rolls in biopsy operation.According to the results of rapid pathological diagnosis, the biopsy operation plan was adjusted to analyze the clinical value of the new rapid pathological diagnosis technique in cervical lesions in primary medical institution. Results: The new rapid pathological diagnosis technology required less space and no pollution, and the diagnosis took about 2-3 min, which did not affect the normal inspection operation.Twenty-five cases of cervical scraping were produced with new rapid pathological diagnosis technique, and the quality of cervical scraping produced with conventional pathological technique was consistent, which could satisfy the needs of pathological cytological diagnosis; twenty-two cases of cervical biopsy under the vaginal device were assisted by this technology and it could increase the positive rate of the first biopsy. Conclusion Cervical scraping and cervical biopsy are still the main methods for cervical lesions examination in primary hospitals.The new rapid pathological diagnosis technology can provide the real-time pathological diagnosis of cervical scraping, improve the positive detection rate of the first biopsy of cervical biopsy, and the cost is low, suitable for promotion in primary medical institution.

To screen the available tomato pollution-safe cultivar varieties and reduce the potential food safety risks in Cd-polluted areas, the differences of Cd accumulation in different tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) varieties in southern China were studied by soil culture and hydroponic experiments. Firstly, the high and low accumulation varieties were selected from 25 tomato varieties under 2.94 mg/kg Cd stress by soil culture test, and then the responses of high and low accumulation tomato varieties to Cd stress were determined by hydroponic experiments. The results of soil culture test show that under 2.94 mg/kg Cd stress, there were significant differences in plant height, total biomass and yield among 25 tomato cultivars, and the Cd contents of fruits of all 25 tomato cultivars exceeded the highest limit value (0.05 mg/kg) of CAC (Codex alimentarius commission). Through cluster analysis, 7, 4 and 14 varieties accumulating relatively high, medium, and low concentrations of Cd in the fruits were screened, among which the highest, the lowest, and the average Cd contents in the fruits were 3.06 mg/kg DW, 1.47 mg/kg DW, and 2.21 mg/kg DW, respectively. The results of hydroponic experiment show that under the same concentration of Cd stress, Qiantangxuri F1, a high Cd accumulating variety, absorbed Cd faster, accumulated more Cd, used shorter oxidative stress response time and had stronger tolerance to Cd than Zhefen 3053, a low Cd accumulating variety. The typical high and low Cd accumulating varieties can provide a reference for agricultural production in heavy metal polluted areas and the development of molecular-assisted breeding methods of PSC. At present, cultivating low Cd accumulating PSC varieties and dynamic monitoring of Cd contents in tomato fruits are feasible methods in medium and light Cd-polluted areas.
Antioxidants ; Cadmium/toxicity* ; China ; Lycopersicon esculentum ; Plant Breeding ; Plant Roots/chemistry* ; Soil Pollutants/toxicity*