Aortic dissection is a dangerous and critical disease with extremely high mortality and disability rate.In clinical practice,aortic dissection should be highly suspected when patients developed dying-like severe chest and back pain.CT and MRI have been the reliable tools for diagnosing aortic dissection.In recent years,endovascular therapy has become the preferred treatment for Stanford type B aortic dissection,and some patients with Stanford type A dissection who cannot receive open surgery may also be treated with endovascular therapy.In order to improve endovascular treatment,to develop new instruments and to study the pathogenesis of aortic dissection,the preparation of stable and reliable animal models is very necessary.This paper aims to make a brief review about the research status concerning the preparation of animal models of aortic dissection.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the short monosyllabic list of Mandarin speech test materials (MSTMs) which have been evaluated the equivalence of difficulty, and to establish the performance-intensity function (P-I function) for people with normal hearing as clinical reference of hearing recovery and individuals ability to perceive and process speech. METHOD: Thirty-seven subjects (the age ranged from 18 to 26 years old) who speak Mandarin well in their daily lives with normal hearing participated in this study. Eight lists of the Short Mandarin Monosyllabic materials (20 words per list) with equal difficulty were utilized. The results were analyzed by Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 17.0. RESULT: P-I function for short monosyllabic word list was x = 98.557/(1 + 12.243 exp (-0.17(P-15, x(max) = 98.557. And the sound pressure level of speech corresponding to a 50% recognition score was 29.6 dB SPL or 9.6 dB HL. The results showed P-I function of 3.1 per dB for Mandarin materials. CONCLUSION The study established the P-I function of the Mandarin short monosyllabic word list materials with equal difficulty, which provides the normative data for identifying the normal hearing in a clinical setting.
Adult ; Auditory Perception ; Female ; Hearing Tests ; methods ; Humans ; Male ; Speech ; Speech Perception ; physiology

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the scoring formula and evaluate the lists equivalence of Mandarin Quick Speech-in-Noise (M-Quick SIN) test materials in mainland China, and for standardizing our research. METHOD: Double 39 subjects with normal hearing were participated in part one and part two of our experiments, respectively. 20, 18, 15, 13, 10, 8, 5, 3, 0, -2, -5, -7, -10 dB SNR were presented in part one; and 20, 15, 10, 5, 0, -5 dB SNR were presented in part two. The results were analyzed by SPSS 13.0. RESULT: SNR-50 was -2.24 dB SNR and "SNR loss = 24.5--correct words" was defined as the scoring formula. All the 13 lists had the e quivalent difficulty. CONCLUSION Defined "SNR loss = 24.5--correct words" as the scoring formula of M-Quick SIN, and the 13 lists had better difficulty equivalence, which could be used in our further clinical research.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Noise ; Speech ; Speech Discrimination Tests ; standards ; Young Adult

Background:Studies showed that neuropeptide S receptor 1(NPSR1)gene polymorphisms were associated with the susceptibility of inflammatory bowel disease( IBD)in Europe’s populations,however,there is no study on the relevance in Chinese population. Aims:To investigate the association of NPSR1 gene polymorphisms with IBD in Chinese Han population. Methods:A total of 457 IBD patients[355 cases of ulcerative colitis(UC)and 102 cases of Crohn’s disease ( CD)]from Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University and 500 healthy controls were recruited. Genotyping of 2 single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)of NPSR1,rs323922(C→G mutation)and rs740347(G→C mutation)was performed by using PCR and sequencing techniques. Results:Differences of the frequencies of genotypes and alleles for rs323922 and rs740347 between UC,CD patients and controls didn’t reach statistical significance(P >0. 05). Genotype-phenotype analysis showed that there were some impact of genotypes for rs323922 and rs740347 on clinical phenotypes of IBD:( i) For rs323922,mutant CG genotype was correlated with male CD patients(OR:0. 441,95% CI:0. 230-0. 844)and CD involving the colon(OR:0. 425,95% CI:0. 199-0. 911),and might be a protective factor.(ii)For rs740347,mutant CC genotype was correlated with early onset CD patients( <16 years old)(OR:15. 019,95% CI:2. 634-86. 470)and mutant C allele was correlated with CD involving the colon(OR:2. 142,95% CI:1. 709-4. 294),both were risk factors. Conclusions:Polymorphisms of NPSR1 rs323922 and rs740347 are not contributors of IBD susceptibility in Chinese Han population,but might be correlated with some clinical phenotypes of IBD.

Objective To investigate the association between aortic calcification and risk of vertebral fracture in Chinese postmenopausal women.Methods This study recruited 561 postmenopausal women aged 60 or older who were prospectively followed for 3 years.Based on the ACS,the patients were divided into aortic calcification group (n =236) and non-aortic calcification group (n =325).Extent of aortic calcification and incidence of vertebral fracture were quantified on the baseline lateral radiographs of lumbar spine.Dual energy x-ray absorptiometry was utilized to evaluate the bone mineral density (BMD).Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the associations between aortic calcification and risk of vertebral fracture.Results In aortic calcification group incidence of vertebral fracture was significantly higher than that in non-aortic calcification group (P ＜ 0.01).Moreover vertebral fracture presented an increased incidence while the ACS was higher.After the adjustment of age,body mass index,BMD,current smoking,current drinking,hypertension,diabetes,total cholesterol,myocardial infarction,stroke and 25-hydroxy vitamin D,aortic calcification with ACS ＞ 6(HR =3.03,95％CI 1.42-6.24),BMD (HR =2.82,95％ CI 1.75-5.68),age (HR =1.96,95％ CI 1.38-4.52),history of two or more falls (HR =1.45,95％ CI 1.24-2.79) and adiponectin (HR =1.07,95％ CI 1.22-2.31) were associated with increased risk of vertebral fracture.Conclusion Severe aortic calcification is closely associated with vertebral fracture for postmenopausal women.

Objective To observe the interactions between a anti-interleukin-8 monoclonal antibody (anti-IL-8 mAb) carried targeted ultrasound contrast agents and the injured vascular endothelial cells,as well as to explore the role of IL-8 in the formation of atherosclerotic plaques and a new assessing method of vascular endothelial functions.Methods The targeted ultrasound contrast agent was prepared by using a erosslinking agent to couple a anti-IL-8 mAb with SonoVue microbubbles.The interactions between SonoVue microbubbles/the targeted microbubbles and normal/injured endothelial cells were observed under an inverted microscope,respectively.The numbers of endothelial cells and adhered microbubbles were counted under high power magnification.The ratio of microbubbles to endothelial cells was calculated for the quantitative analysis of the interactions.Results In the control group,only a slight amount of original SonoVue microbubbles were bound to normal/injured endothelial cells.In contrast,it was visible under the microscope that the anti-IL-8 mAb carried SonoVue could be bound to endothelial cells,and the number of microbubbles bound to the surface of injured endothelial cells was significantly higher than that bound to the normal endothelial cells.Conclusions The anti-IL-8 mAb carried targeted ultrasound contrast agent could be readily bound to the surface of the injured cells specifically,and thus suggesting a new direction for ultrasonic detection of vascular endothelial injury and the ultrasonic assessment of vascular endothelial functions.

Aim To explore the effects of curcumin on inflammatory reaction and blood-brain barrier permeability in rats following cerebral ischemic injury,and to further investigate its potential mechanisms.Methods SD rats underwent the cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury by the sutrure occlusion model were randomly divided into sham-control,cerebral ischemia and curcumin-treatment groups.Neurological deficit scores,cerebral infarction volume,brain water content and blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability were measured,myeloperoxidase(MPO)activities in rat brain were measured as an index of neutrophil infiltration;content of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)in rat brain was detected by ELISA;expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9) in rat brain was determined by Western blot.Results Neurological deficit and cerebral infarction volume was decreased in curcumin-treatment group.The degree of neutrophilicgranulo cyte infiltration in cerebral tissues was decreased and the integrity of BBB was improved.Curcumin could also inhibit TNF-α and MMP-9 expression.Conclusion Curcumin exerts the neuroprotective effect on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats through inhibiting the inflammatory reaction and improving BBB integrity,which may be associated with the inhibiton of TNF-α and MMP-9.

Abdominal Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; secondary ; surgery ; Dendritic Cell Sarcoma, Follicular ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Dendritic Cell Sarcoma, Interdigitating ; metabolism ; pathology ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; metabolism ; pathology ; Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ; Omentum ; Peritoneal Neoplasms ; secondary ; Receptor, Epidermal Growth Factor ; metabolism ; Receptors, Complement 3b ; metabolism ; Receptors, Complement 3d ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore combination rules of Chinese herbal prescriptions from effective cases for treatment of unstable angina (UA).

METHODSPrescription data from 156 UA patients effectively treated at Cardiovascular Diseases Centre of Xiyuan Hospital were analyzed using complex network method.

RESULTSAccording to multi-scale analysis of backbone network and pointwise mutual information analysis, core prescriptions from the 156 UA patients were presented as follows: Rhizoma Ligustici wallichii, Radix Paeoniae rubra, Radix Codonopsis, Rhizoma Pinelliae, poria, and Angelica sinensis. Meanwhile, core couplet medicines for these patients covered Rhizoma Ligustici wallichii and Radix paeoniaerubra, Angelica sinensis and Rhizoma Ligustici wallichii, Radix Codonopsis and Rhizoma Ligustici wallichii, Rhizoma Ligustici wallichii and Rhizoma Pinelliae, Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae and poriacocos, Bulbus Alli Macrostemi and Rhizoma Pinelliae. Among different primary symptoms, there was slightly difference in core prescriptions.

CONCLUSIONThe core prescriptions for the treatment of UA include blood-activating drug, phlem-resolving drugs. As an exploration of combination rules of Chinese herbal prescriptions in treating UA based on complex network, it can be used as a reference for further researches.

Angelica sinensis ; Angina, Unstable ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; standards ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Pinellia ; Plant Roots ; Practice Guidelines as Topic ; Prescriptions ; standards

OBJECTIVETo observe the difference in therapeutic effect of Chinese herbal granule decocted separately and mingly.

METHODSOne hundred patients of functional dyspepsia of Spleen deficiency and Liver stagnancy type were treated with Jianweishu Granule (JWSG, a self-formulated recipe by the author). Half of the patients received JWSG decocted separately, half of them received that decocted mingly. The therapeutic effects between the two groups were compared. Experimental observation on the effects of differently decocted remedies in rats was also conducted.

RESULTSThe therapeutic effects obtained in the two groups were similar, with respective cure rate of 72% and 70% and the total effective rate 96% in both group. There was insignificant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). Experimental study all showed no difference between the differently decocted remedies in inhibiting gastric acid, pepsin activity, gastric function regulation, small intestine movement improvement and pain alleviation in rats.

CONCLUSIONThe therapeutic effects of JWSG decocted separately or mingly are the same. This fact provides a scientific basis for clinical use of granule form of single Chinese herbs.

Adult ; Animals ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Drug Combinations ; Drug Interactions ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; administration & dosage ; Dyspepsia ; drug therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Mice ; Middle Aged ; Phytotherapy ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar ; Stomach Ulcer ; drug therapy ; Yang Deficiency ; drug therapy