Objective To understand the levels of plasma endothelin (ET) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in cough variant asthma(CVA) patients, and to investigate their correlation and clinical implications. Methods Thirty CVA patients,30 typical bronchial asthma patients and 25 healthy controls were recruited. Three milliliter limosis venous blood were drawn from each patient to measure the levels of plasma ET and CGRP by radioimmanity. Results ①The levels of ET in the CVA group and typical bronchial asthma group were higher than that in healthy controls (P < 0.01). Their values were (103.58±28.66) ng/L, (129.37±27.28) ng/L and (72.63±21.52)ng/L, respectively. The levels of CGRP in the CVA group and typical bronchial asthma group were (7.62±2.56) ng/L and(6.63±2.09)ng/L The level of CGRP in the healthy controls group was (21.60±3.29) ng/L. The first two groups were lower than the latter(P < 0.01). However, there was no significant difference between the CVA group and typical bronchial asthma group(P >0.05). ②ET and CGRP were negatively correlated in both CVA group(r= -0.819,P<0.05) and typical bronchial asthma group(r= -0.738,P<0.05). Conclusions ET and CGRP were negatively correlated in both CVA group and typical bronchial asthma group, which means that ET and CGRP were a couple of antagonistic factors participated in the regulation of CVA, and may play an important role in the process of CVA.

Objective To investigate ventricular remodeling and glucose transporter 4(GLUT4) expression in rat with type 2 diabetes mellitus(DM) complicated with myocardial infarction (MI), as well as the effects of ramipril on ventricular remodeling and CLUT4 expression. Method Diabetic animal model (DM) was produced by cholesterol-diet and intraperitoneal injedtion of streptozotocin (STZ,30 mg/kg). The successful model was identified based on the blood gulcose value > 6.7 mmol/L. Left anterior descending coronary artery was ligated to produce the model of MI. 46 wistar rats were randomly(random number) divided into 5 groups: DM + MI + placebo group(placebo group, n = 9), DM + MI + ramipril group(ramipril group, n = 10), DM + sham-operation group (DM group, n = 10),non-DM group + MI (MI group, n = 9), and non-DM + sham-operation group (n = 8). After six weeks, echocardiographic studies was performed ; Left ventricular mass index (LVMI), myocardial infarct size and myocardial collagen volume fraction(CVF) of non-infarction area were also detected. GLUT4 mRNA in the myocardium away from infarction region was measured with real-time fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR and the expression of GLUT4 protein was measured with western blot. Analysis of variance was used to compare the groups. P -values< 0.05 were considered to indicate statistically significant differences. Results Compared with Ml group and DM group,EF[(32 ±3)% vs. (65 ±4)%, P <0.01 and (32 ±3)% vs. (38 ±4)%, P <0.05 respectively] significantly decreased,while E/A ratio (P < 0.01), LVMI (P < 0.05) and CVF (P < 0.05) obviously increased in placebo group. The expression of GLUT4 mRNA and protein were similar between placebo group and DM group, however, much lower than those in MI group(P<0.01).In rampiril group, E/A ratio (P < 0.01), LVMI(3.1±0.2 vs.4.2±0.4, P <0.01) and CVF(P < 0.05) significantly decreased compared with placebo group, while EF[(45±3)% vs.(32±3)%, P <0.01] and the expression of GLUT4 mRNA and protein (P < 0.05) increased. Conclusions Rampiril could improve left ventricular hypertrophy and systolic/di-astolic dysfunction, increase the expression of GLUT4 mRNA and protein in diabetic rats complicated with MI.

Objective To compare the clinical effects of the traditional operation and the new patch technique for the elderly women with pelvic organ prolapse.Methods 60 elderly women with pelvic organ prolapse patients were randomly divided into the traditional group and the modern group with 30 cases.The traditional group was treated with traditional surgery.The madern group was treated by new patch repair.Compare of the operation time,operative blood loss,catheter duration,hospital stay,postoperative recovery and 3 years recurrence rate in two groups.Results The catheter duration and hospital stay of the mederm group were significantly shorter than those of the traditional group (t =8.9471,14.2584,P ＜ 0.05).The postoperative recovery of the new group was better than the traditional group (x2 =5.9341,P ＜ 0.05).The 3 years recurrence rate of the mederm group was significantly lower than those of the traditional group (x2 =4.7059,P ＜ 0.05).The operation time of the mederm group was longer than those of the traditional group (t =4.4631,P ＜ 0.05) and the operative blood loss was more than the traditional group (t =2.0318,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion The effect of the new patchin the treatment of elderly women with pelvic organ prolapse is better than the traditional surgery.

Background: Studies showed that aberrant activation of JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway promoted the tumorigenesis and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) has either tumor-suppressing or tumor-promoting effect in regulation of tumor progression.Aims: To investigate the effect of specific inhibition of JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway on HCC and whether TGF-β1 signaling pathway is involved in this process or not.Methods: Thirty Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups: control group, HCC group, and HCC+AG490 group.In the latter two groups, diethylnitrosamine was administered in drinking water to induce HCC model, and in HCC+AG490 group, AG490, a specific inhibitor of JAK was injected intraperitoneally in the first week of model establishment.At the end of the 16th week, all rats were sacrificed.The maximum diameter of tumor nodules in the liver was recorded and the number of tumors with maximum diameter greater than 1 cm was counted.Expression and distribution of STAT3 and TGF-β1 in liver tissue were determined by real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence.Results: Compared with the control group, expressions of STAT3 and TGF-β1 mRNA in liver tissue were significantly increased in HCC group (P<0.05).Phosphorylated STAT3 (p-STAT3) and TGF-β1 proteins were absent in liver tissue in control group, and both were up-regulated and co-expressed in HCC group.While in HCC+AG490 group, expressions of STAT3 and TGF-β1 mRNA were significantly lower than those in HCC group (P<0.05);the liver tissue was weakly positive for p-STAT3 and TGF-β1 proteins, and the number of tumor nodules greater than 1 cm and the maximum diameter were markedly reduced when compared with the HCC group [1.20±1.03 and (1.14±0.18) cm vs.4.30±1.06 and (1.78±0.27) cm, P all<0.05].Conclusions: Specific inhibition of JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway may restrain the tumorigenesis and progression of HCC partially by interfering TGF-β1 signaling pathway.

Objective： To study the changes of water molecular diffusion in the ischemic region by using MR dephase technique and discuss the potential mechanism of the diffusion changes at early stage. Methods: Totally 43 cases were studied retrospectively. There were 10 cases whose MRI examinations were performed within 6 hours，12 cases from 7－24 hours，7 cases from 2－7 days, 8 cases from 8－14 days, 6 cases from 15 days to 2 months. The apparent diffusion coefficients in the ischemic region were calculated. Results: The ADCav in the grey matter was 8.61×10－4mm2*s－1. The ADCav decreased to (4.72×10－4±1.51×10－4) mm2*s－1 in ischemic region at superacute stage, ADCav ratio to contralateral corresponding region was 0.55±0.18, and ADCav increased to (5.68×10－4±1.22×10－4) mm2*s－1 during the time range of 2-7 days, （9.22×10－4±2.07×10－4） during the time range of 8－14 days, and approaching （26.42×10－4+9.65×10－4） mm2*s－1 during the time range of 2 months. The pearson product- moment correlation between the changes of diffusion value and time was sighificent (r=0.95, P<0.001). ADCv increased at superacute stage and decreased over time. Conclusion: The diffusion of water molecules in ischemic region decreased at superacute stage, and the ADC increased over time. The anisotropy increased at superacute stage and decreased as the course developed. DWI could detect ischemic lesion much earlier than CT and routine MR examination. DWI has great value in the diagnosis of superacute stroke. The mechanism of the diffusion changes at early stage may be the intracellular toxicity edema.

Objective: To explore the application value on combined examination of blood levels of growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) and NT-pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in patients after successful cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) for their recent prognosis.
Methods: A total of 102 patients with sudden cardiac arrest and successful CPR in our hospital were enrolled. Blood levels of GDF-15 were examined at immediately, 12 h and 24-48 h after CPR respectively. According to GDF-15 levels, the patients were divided into 3 groups: Group A, the patients with GDF-15<1200 ng/L at all-time points,n=31; Group B, GDF-15 level consistently increasing and GDF-15>1200 ng/L at all-time points,n=35; Group C, GDF-15 level consistently increasing at 12 h and 24-48 h after CPR, while it was lower at 24-48 h than 12 h after CPR,n=36. Blood levels of NT-proBNP and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were also examined. The patients were followed-up for 6 months for post-CPR death.
Results: Blood levels of GDF-15 and NT-proBNP were related, NT-proBNP level was changing with GDF-15 varying. GDF-15 and NT-proBNP level was negatively related to LVEF (r=-0.530,P<0.001), the patients with GDF-15>1800 ng/L and NT-proBNP>400 pg/ml had the higher mortality than those had the lower levels of GDF-15 and NT-proBNP,P<0.05. Survival analysis presented that 6 months survival rate in Group B was lower than Group A and Group C,P<0.05; survival rate was similar between Group A and Group C,P>0.05.
Conclusion: Combined examination for blood levels of GDF-15 and NT-proBNP may better predict the recent prognosis in patients who received CPR.

Objective To investigate the effect of bifidobacterial adhesin (BA) on nuclear factor of κB (NF-κB) and cytokines of intestinal mucosa of stressed rats.Methods Forty-eight rats were divided into stress group (n =24) and BA group (n =24) using the stochastic indicator method.After the stressed rat models were established withfettering as the stress condition,the experiment lasted 8 days.Both groups were given enteral nutrition (EN) with heat 125.4 kJ/(kg · d) and nitrogen 0.2 g/(kg · d).The BA group was fed with EN plus 5 mg/ (kg · d) bifidobacterial adhesin,and the stress group was fed with EN plus equivalent volume of normal saline [5 mg/ (kg · d)].The levels of NF-κB,interleukin-10 (IL-10),tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α),and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) were measured in both groups before modeling,after modeling,on the 3rd intervention day,and on the 8th intervention day.The changes in the morphology of intestinal mucosal were observed by transmission electron microscopy.Results (1) Expression of NF-κB:The positive expression rate of NF-κB in the intestinal mucosa was 0,79.2％,63.5％,and 66.7％ in the control group and 0,68.4％,55.7％,and 45.8％ in the BA group before modeling,after modeling,on the 3rd intervention day,and on the 8th intervention day.The expressions of NF-κB in both groups significantly increased after the modeling (both P =0.000).Even on the 3rd and 8th intervention days,the positive expression rates of NF-κB in the intestinal mucosa were still significantly higher than the pre-modeling level (both P =0.000).Compared with the levels after modeling and in the control group,the expression of NF-κB in the intestinal mucosa in the BA group on the 8th intervention day was significantly down-regulated (P =0.015,P =0.021).(2) Quantitative expressions of TNF-α and IFN-γ:Compared with the pre-modeling levels,the intestinal mncosa levels of TNF-α [stressed group:(154.63 ± 17.52) pg/g,(198.72 ±26.59) pg/g; BA group:(154.63 ±17.52) pg/g,(201.45 ±28.16) pg/g],IFN-γ [stressed group:(39.47 ±5.76) pg/g,(55.32 ±5.93) pg/g; BA group:(39.47 ± 5.76),(60.75 ± 7.68) pg/g] and the plasma levels of TNF-α [stressed group:(17.35±2.62) pg/g,(30.56±4.85) ng/L; BA group:(83.31 ±9.78) pg/g,(114.82±13.78) ng/L] and IFN-γ [stressed group:(17.35 ±2.62) pg/g,(28.73 ±4.17) ng/L; BA group:(17.35 ± 2.62) pg/g,(30.56 ± 4.85) ng/L] significantl increased (all P ＜ 0.05).On the 3rd and 8th intervention day,the intestinal mucosa levels of IFN-γ [(58.16 ± 7.38) pg/g,(56.37 ± 7.29) pg/g] and TNF-α [(215.76 ±31.54) pg/g and (211.83 ±33.61) pg/g] and plasma levels of IFN-γ [(29.35 ±4.76) ng/L,(30.25±3.67) ng/L] andTNF-α [(125.71 ±17.38) ng/L,(141.26±19.65) ng/L] in the stressed group were significantly higher than the pre-modeling levels (all P ＜ 0.05).On the 3rd and 8th intervention day,the intestinal mucosa levels of IFN-γ [(165.43 ± 24.58) pg/g,(171.57 ± 26.87) pg/g]and IFN-γ [(42.35 ±4.92) pg/g,(40.58 ±4.65) pg/g] and the plasma levels of TNF-α [(103.96 ±13.68) ng/L,(94.53±12.66) ng/L] and IFN-γ [(20.78±2.84) ng/L,(19.65±2.45) ng/L] in the BA group were significantly lower than the post-modeling levels (all P ＜ 0.05),whereas those of IL (intestinal mucosa:(62.82 ±8.34) pg/g,(75.16 ±9.65) pg/g; plasma:(43.32 ±5.28) ng/L,(55.64 ±6.87) ng/L] were significantly higher than the post-modeling levels (all P ＜ 0.05).Compared with the stressed group,the intestinal mucosa levels of TNF-α and IFN-γand plasma levels of IFN-γ and TNF-α significantly decreased while the IL-10 level significantly increased (all P ＜0.05) in the BA group.(3) Histomorphology showed that,compared that the ileal mucosal villi and crypt structure were recovered in the BA group on the 8th intervention day.Compared with the post-modeling conditions,the ileal mucosal villi and crypt structure were damaged in the stressed group,showing edema of the lamina propria,in which inflammatory cell infiltration was observed.Conclusions BA is helpful for the repair of the intestinal mucosa injury after stress by regulating the release of inflammatory mediators and cytokines of intestinal mucosa.

Background Light-induced retinal damage results in the damage of retinl pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and therefore affects the pathogenesis and development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).Studies showed that tissue factor (TF) is overexpressed in oxidative damaged RPE cells and the choroidal neovascularization (CNV) of AMD,speculating that the suppression of TF can prevent the damage of RPE cells and inhibit CNV.Objective This study was conducted to observe the protective effects of TF targeting peptide (TFTP),a new drug of autologous synthesis,on human RPE-cells induced by blue light.Methods Human RPE cells were isolated from donor eye and cultured.Cultured cells were divided into blank control group,model group and TFTP treated group.Light-induced RPE cell damage model was established by exposuring the cells in the blue light of (4.0±-0.5) mW/cm2 for 12 hours in the model group,and different concentrations (10,100,150,200,300 μmol/L) of TF-TP were added into the medium to pretreat the cells for 24 hours and then exposed the cells to the blue light for 12 hours in the TF-TP groups.The cell viability was determined by CCK-8 assay.The morphology and ultrastructure in the cells were observed under the inverted microscope and transmission electron microscope.The apoptosis of the cells was assayed by Hoechst staining.The expressions of TF and apoptosis-related protein bax,bcl-2 in the cells were determined by Western blot.Results CCK-8 assay showed that there was no significant difference in the cell viability among blank control group and different concentrations TF-TP groups (F=2.15,P =0.11).The cell survival rate of blank control group,model group and 150 μmol/L TF-TP group was (100.0±0.00) ％,(43.79±6.55) ％ and (63.45±3.57) ％,and the survial rate was increased in the 150 μmol/L TF-TP group compared with the model group (P =0.00),and 150 μmol/L was detemined as a optimal concentration of TF-TP.A lot of shrinkage,deformation,suspension cells were exhibited under the optical microscope,and decrease of microvilli structure,rupture of mitochondrial cristae and vacuolar degeneration of the cells were found in the model group,and the damage of the cells were evidently lightened in the 150 μ mol/L TF-TP group.The apoptosis rate of the cells were (0.98 ±0.19)％,(9.98 ±0.82) ％ and (5.73 ±0.88) ％ in the blank group,model group and 150 μmol/L TF-TP group,respectively,with a significant difference among the groups (F =206.18,P =0.00),and the apoptosis rate of the cells in the 150 μmol/L TF-TP group was significantly lower than that in the model group (P＜0.05).Compared with the blank control group,the relative expression of bax and TF was obviously increased and that of bcl-2 was decreased in the model group;while the expression of bax and TF was lower,and that of bcl-2 was higher in the 150 μmol/L TF-TP group compared with the model group (all at P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Pretreation of TF-TP can lessen cell apoptosis and increase cell survival rate and therefore plays a protective role to blue light-induced human RPE cells possibly by inhibiting bax/bcl-2 apoptotic pathways mediated by TF.

Objective To investigate the expression and activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK 1/2), its upstream molecule, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and downstream transcription factor, Ets-like protein 1 (ELK-1), in lesions of psoriasis vulgaris, and to evaluate the relationship between ERK pathway and psoriasis vulgaris. Methods Tissue samples were obtained from the lesions of 40 patients with psoriasis vulgaris and normal skin of 20 normal human controls. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot were performed to detect the expressions of phosphorylated ERK1/2, EGFR and ELK-1 in the tissue samples.Results As immunohistochemistry showed, the integrated optical density (IOD) of p-ERK1/2, p-EGFR and p-ELK-1 was 269.85 ± 57.96, 136.88 ± 30.33 and 237.61 ± 56.29 respectively in the psoriatic lesions, significantly higher than that in the normal controls ( 140.24 ± 24.42, 110.66 ± 28.99 and 119.04 ± 21.99, respectively, all P ＜ 0.05). A positive correlation was observed between the expression of p-EGFR and p-ERK1/2(r = 0.57, P ＜ 0.05) and between that of p-ERK1/2 and p-ELK-1 (r=0.72,P＜0.05) in psoriatic lesions.Conclusion The enhanced signal transduction through phosphorylated EGFR→ERK1/2→ELK-1 pathway may play a certain role in the pathophysiological process of psoriasis vulgaris.

Objective: To explore the application of asymmetrical sculpture in the ear reconstruction with autologous cartilage through comparing the difference of the balanced sculpture and asymmetrical sculpture. Methods: We used the method of retrospective survey and classified the patients who had undergone ear reconstruction because of microtia into two groups. Group A included the patients who had undergone operation with the application of balanced sculpture method. Group B included the patients who had undergone operation with the application of unsymmetrical sculpture method. We picked out 35 patients containing 19 patients of group A and 16 patients of group B according to our grouping criteria and exclusion criteria. The number of cases with complications was recorded, such as collapse of framework, exposure of cartilage, necrosis of skin flap and reconstructed ear infection. The clinical outcomes of two methods in refining the delicate structures of the reconstructed ear were evaluated (that is the definition, shape, size, color and projection). The time for sculpture was compared. Then we analysed the results and evaluated the effectiveness, safety and feasibility of asymmetrical sculpture′s application in the ear reconstruction. Results: Group A had 2 cases which suffered skin flap necrosis. One of them had cartilage exposure and then had secondary infection leading to local cartilage necrosis and absorption, but after active treatment and local skin flap transplantation it was cured. Group B had no skin flap necrosis, cartilage extrusion, framework deformation and distortion, framework collapse and necrosis or absorption. Group B had a higher score in definition, shape, size, color and projection, and the difference was significant in definition, shape, color and projection. In our clinical practice, the sculpture time in both group was similarly about 40 minutes after the surgery operator had skillfully mastered both techniques. Conclusions Both methods are safe and feasible. The method of asymmetrical sculpture does not require additional operative time, and the method of asymmetrical sculpture is a better one compared with the method of balanced sculpture in refining the reconstructed ear.