Objective: To investigate the differences of biochemical markers between the patients with pulmonary hypertension related to left heart disease (PH-LHD) and LHD; to explore the sensitive bio markers which may predict PH in LHD patients. Methods: A total of 355 LHD patients admitted to our hospital from 2014-01 to 2015-05 were enrolled. According to 2009 ESC/ERS guidelines, PH was deifned by pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP)>50 mmHg and patients were divided into 2 groups: LHD group,n=224 and PH-LHD group,n=131. The basic information with blood levels of biomarkers was recorded and their accuracy for predicting PH was analyzed. Results: The pathogenesis of LHD included 184 (51.83%) patients of coronary heart disease, 90 (25.35%) of dilated cardiomyopathy and 81 (22.81%) of cardiac valve heart disease. Compared with LHD group, PH-LHD group had increased ratio of NYHA III and IV degree (89.31% vs 45.54%), decreased LVEF [42.0 (33.0, 59.0) % vs 60.0 (42.0, 65.0) %], all P<0.001; PH-LHD group presented elevated blood levels of BNP, bilirubin, red cell distribution width (RDW), uric acid and cystatin C, while reduced lipoprotein (HDL), allP<0.001. PASP was positively related to biomarkers as BNP, bilirubin, RDW, uric acid and cystatin C, while negatively related to HDL. With the combination of BNP, direct bilirubin and RDW, the predictive value for PH-LHD under ROC curve was 0.828 with the sensitivity at 0.813, speciifcity at 0.708. Conclusion: Blood levels of biochemical markers were statistically different between the patients of PH-LHD and LHD; the combination of BNP, direct bilirubin and RDW showed the higher accuracy for predicting PH occurrence in LHD patients.

Objective To investigate the sequence variations of mitochondrial D-loop region in chronic glomerular nephritis patients and family members and their possible associations with chronic glomerular nephritis.Methods 20 patients with chronic glomerular nephritis and 48 unaffected pedigree members,as well as 122 cases of normal control were recruited.mtDNA extracted from peripheral blood were examined by PCR-based assay for D-loop sequence variations,followed by sequencing analysis.Results Compared with the normal control and standard sequence,a total of 61 sequence variants were detected,among these,three high variations were found,and the base variation rate of patients with chronic glomerular nephritis(CGN)and unaffected pedigree members(UAPM)(0.88%,0.72%)significantly increased compared with the control group(0.61%).The distibutional difference of base variation rate in the experimental groups were significantly higher than those in the control group(x2=21.220,7.964,all P<0.05).Especially in microsatellite variation in D310 region,the mutation frequency and base variation rate in patients with CGN were 100.00% and 30.00%,respectively,which of UAPM were 81.30% and 17.95%,respectively,while those in the normal control group were 53.30% and 6.05%,respectively.Among them,the patients with CGN compared with the control group had statistically significant differences(x2=15.610,150.047,all P<0.05).Likewise,UAPM also had statistically significant difference compared with the control group(x2=11.347,66.188,all P<0.05).Conclusion D-Loop of mitochondrial genome mutations may be related to the development of chronic glomerular nephritis.

ASICs are H+-gated novel cation ion channels, which belong to the epithelial sodium channels (NaC/DEG) superfamily. As recent studies focus, ASICs are expected to be pharmacological targets on protecting the neuron from ischemia and damage, improving the ability of memory and study, curing epilepsy and analgesia. It is not until the most recentness that the subunits of ASICs have been cloned. Now, researchers have paid more attention to the distribution, expression, function and modulation of ASICs in the organism.

In the present study, packaging system composed of pAAV-CMV-GFP, pAAV-RC and pHelper were transfected into human embryonic kidney 293 cells (HEK293 cells) mediated by polyethyleneimine (PEI) to explore an optimal transfection condition. Different total plasmid DNA dosages (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 μg) and different PEI/Plasmid ratios (1:1, 3:1, 5:1, 7:1) were tested with detection of green fluorescence protein (GFP) with ImagePro Plus6. 0 Software. Then transfection efficiency of the optimized transfection system was further observed for different time periods(12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72 h). The results showed that total plasmid dosage of 4 μg/well with PEI/plasmid ratio of 3 : 1-5 : 1 was an efficient transfection condition. Transfection efficiency-time curve was an S-shaped curve. Transfection efficiency reached a plateau at 60 h after transfection. The optimized conditions for PEI-mediated transfection at the optimal time result in enhanced transfection efficiency of triple plasmid into HEK293 cells.
Green Fluorescent Proteins ; HEK293 Cells ; Humans ; Plasmids ; Polyethyleneimine ; Transfection ; methods

OBJECTIVETo explore the reason, key diagnosic point and therapeutic method of the incisions fat colliquation or infections at early stage after operation of lumbar disc herniation.

METHODSFrom July 2007 to May 2012, clinical data of 11 patients with incision fat liquefaction or early infection after lumbar discectomy were retrospectively analyzed. There were 5 males and 6 females with an average age of 43.1 years, and the mean time of incisions fat colliquation or infection was 5 days and a half after operation. The main clinical features included local wound pain aggravating, fervescence, fresh seepage in the wound, and blood inflammatory index increased, etc. The wound could heal at the first treatment stage or not was an evaluation standard of curative effect.

RESULTSAll patients were followed up with an average period of 21 months. The wounds of 10 cases healed at the first stage without recurrence and complications. In 1 case infected by staphylococcus aureus, distal part of the wound present local red, swelling and with wave motion at 2 months after operation, staphylococcus aureus infection was confirmed after puncture and bacterial culture, and 1 thrum was found after local incision. The wound healed after change dressings for 1 week, without recurrence after followed up for 13 months.

CONCLUSIONPreventing the risk factors before operation, minimizing invasive technique during operation reasonable antibiotics application for the lumbar operation reguiring placement objects, and correctly handling with wound after operation could prevent and reduce the incidence of incisions fat liquefaction or infection after operation of lumbar disc herniation. For incision fat liquefaction or infection, early diagnosis, debridement, VSD negative pressure irrigation and drainage, to choosing sensitive antibiotics according to the results of drug sensitivity, may contribute to wound early healing and decrease complication.

Adipose Tissue ; pathology ; Adult ; Aged ; Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; surgery ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Staphylococcal Infections ; pathology ; therapy ; Surgical Wound Infection ; pathology ; therapy ; Time Factors

OBJECTIVETo explore the clinical features and imaging findings of intravenous leiomyomatosis (IVL).

METHODThe clinical features and imaging findings of 9 patients with pathologically confirmed IVL were retrospectively analyzed.

RESULTSOut of these 9 patients, there were 5 first-episode patients and 4 recurrent patients. Five patients had a history of uterine leiomyoma.Inferior vena cava (IVC) were involved in all 9 patients. The tumor extended through IVC into right heart chamber in 7 patients, among whom tumor were initially arisen from pelvic vessels in 6 patients. The first-episode symptoms included chest tightness and shortness of breath (n=4), edema of low extremity (n=2), abdominal distention (n=2), and menorrhagia (n=1). Tumors in pelvis/venous system and right heart cavity appeared as hypoechoic mass under ultrasound examinations, and hypodense mass with mottled enhancement were observed on contrasted CT. Tumors appeared to be isointense to muscles on T1-weighted images and slightly hyperintense on T2-weighted images.

CONCLUSIONSIVL has certain clinical history and lesion locations. Combined imaging examinations are helpful in the early diagnosis, surgery planning, and follow-up of IVL.

Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Leiomyomatosis ; diagnosis ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Vascular Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; Veins

Objective To assess the diagnostic predictive value of Wells score and modified Geneva score for acute pulmonary embolism by prospective case series and to explore a more suitable scoring system for Chinese population.Methods All the patients suspected of pulmonary embolism (PE) and received CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) were enrolled consecutively in Fuxing Hospital,Capital Medical University,China,from June 2009 to August 2011.Before CTPA test or on condition that test results were unknown,clinical scoring was assessed prospectively by the Wells score and the modified Geneva score.The probability of PE in each patient was assessed and the patients were divided into low,moderate and high probability groups according to the clinical scores.The result of CTPA was used as the diagnostic gold standard for PE.Diagnostic accuracy in each group was analyzed.The predictive accuracy of both scores was compared by AUCROC curve.Results A total of 139 patients met our enrollment criteria and 117 eligible patients entered our study at last.PE was diagnosed in 47 patients by CTPA with an overall prevalence of 40.2％.Prevalence of PE in the low,moderate and high pretest probability groups assessed by the Wells score and by the simplified modified Geneva score were 7.1％ (3/42),42.9％ (21/49),88.5％ (23/26)and 10.0％ (3/30),48.1％ (37/77),7/10,respectively.AUCROC curves for the Wells score and the simplified modified Geneva score were 0.872 ( 95％ CI 0.810-0.933 ) and 0.734 ( 95％ CI 0.643-0.825 )respectively,with a significant difference ( P =0.005 ).Conclusion The Wells score is more accurate for clinical predicting acute PE than the modified Geneva score.

Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effects and complications of modified facial mask for non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in elderly patients with respiratory failure.Methods A total of 132 elderly patients(107 males and 25 female,aged 78.5±8.6 years) treated with NIV from February 2008 to May 2011 were randomized into two groups:modified facial mask(group A,n=68,56 males and 12 females,aged 78.8±22.2 years) and control facial mask(group B,n=64,64 males and 13 females,aged 76.6±20.4 years).Duration of NIV,time in RICU(respiratory intensive care unit),length of hospital stay,risk for hospital acquired pneumonia (HAP),risk for invasive ventilation,cure rates,in-hospital mortality,NIV failure rate and cost were compared between the two groups.The complications of NIV,such as oropharyngeal dryness,skin damage of face and nose,abdominal bloating,gas leakage from mask were also compared between the two groups.Results Compared with group B,duration of NIV(12.2±2.3 d vs.18.4±3.6d),time in RICU(7.3±3.2d vs.14.6t5.4d),length of in hospital stay(16.6±4.2d vs.28.2±6.2)d,and cost(2.23±0.12 ten thousand yuan vs.4.23± 0.24 ten thousand yua) in group A were significantly decreased(t=9.72,14.91,13.08,10.81 respectively,all P＜0.05).The risk for invasive ventilation [2.9％ (2 cases) vs.43.8％(28 cases)],NIV failure rate [5.9％ (4 cases) vs.12.5％ (28 cases)] were also decreased in group A compared with group B(x2 =31.26,25.74,both P＜0.05).Compared with group B,The complications of NIV such as skin damage of face and nose[4.4％ (3 cases) vs.37.5％ (24 cases)],abdominal bloating [2.9％ (2 cases) vs.28.1％ (18 cases)],gas leakage from mask [8.8 ％ (6 cases)vs.50％(32 cases)] in group A were significantly decreased(x2 =31.26,25.74,all P＜0.05).Conclusions Modified facial mask for NIV is effective in the treatment of elderly patients with respiratory failure.The complications and in-hospital mortality are reduced with the application of modified facial mask for NIV and it is highly tolerated by patients.Modified facial mask for NIV is the first choice in the treatment in elderly patients with respiratory failure.

Compounds with serotonin reuptake inhibition/5-HT(1A) dual activity were used to build 3D pharmacophore model as a training molecules by Discover Studio. Based on the model, 8 novel aryl piperazine benzo[b][1,4] oxazine derivatives were designed and synthesized, and their structures were confirmed by 1H NMR and HR-MS. Biological evaluation illustrated that compounds VI(1) and VI(7) showed potent functional activities at both 5-HT transporter and 5-HT(1A) receptor, which can be used as lead compounds to guide future research of design and synthesis of potent novel compounds.

Objective To investigate the molecular mechanism of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) induced by activated vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 ( VEGFR-I ) in cell line MHCC97-H.Methods MHCC97-H cells were cultured in DMEM with 1％ fetal bovine serum (control group),10 μmol/L PP2 (PP2 group),10 μmol/L PBS (PBS group),50 μmol/L VEGF-B (VEGF-B group),l0μmol/L PP2 and 50 μmol/L VEGF-B (PP2 +VEGF group),10 μmol/L PBS and 50 μmol/L VEGF-B (PBS + VEGF-B group),respectively.Protein expressions of epithelial marker E-cadherin,α-catenin and mesenchymal marker vimentin and N-cadherin were detected by Western blot.The expression sites of E-cadherin,α-catenin and mesenchymal marker vimentin and N-cadherin were detected by cell immunofluorescence.The ability of invasion and migration of cell line MHCC97-H were assessed by cell invasion and migration test.All data were analyzed by the t test.Results The expressions of E-cadherin,α-catenin,vimentin and N-cadherin were 3.23 +0.76,3.01 ±0.25,3.01 +0.22 and 2.63 +0.40 in the control group,4.18 +0.32,3.29 +0.11,4.85 +0.36 and 3.02 +0.52 in the PP2 group,2.83 +0.65,3.03 +0.27,1.37 ±0.24 and 2.98 ±0.36 in the PBS group,2.06 ±0.15,2.84 ±0.76,5.79 ± 0.38 and 5.54 ± 0.28 in the VEGF-B group,6.12 ± 0.08,5.45 ± 0.37,3.36 ± 0.42 and 3.26 ±0.13 in the PP2 + VEGF-B group and 1.36 ±0.54,1.26 ±0.45,4.05 ±0.17 and 1.05 ±0.33 in the PBS +VEGF-B group.There was a significant difference in the expressions of E-cadherin and α-catenin between the PP2 +VEGF-B group and the VEGF-B group (t =7.625,9.931,P ＜ 0.05 ).The expressions of vimentin and N-cadherin in the PP2 + VEGF-B group were significantly lower than those in the VEGF-B group (t =12.001,11.910,P ＜ 0.05).Six hours after the treatment with VEGF-B,the numbers of MHCC97-H migrated were 19 ± 1,5 ± 2and 16 ± 1 in the VEGF-B group,PP2 + VEGF-B group and PBS + VEGF-B group,respectively.The number of MHCC97-H cells migrated in the VEGF-B group was greater than that in the PP2 ± VEGF-B group ( t =13.566,P ＜ 0.05 ).The number of MHCC97-H cells passed through the Boyden chamber was 4 + 2,which was significantly less than 16 ± 1 of the VEGF-B group (t =12.350,P ＜0.05).Conclusion EMT induced by activated VEGFR-1 was mediated via c-Src kinase signal transduction in MHCC91-H cell line,and c-Src may be a potential target to interfere the invasion and migration of hepatic cancer cells.