nal abnormalities of pediatric heart diseases.

Objective To observe the changes of plasma neuropeptide Y (NPY) and neurotensin (NT) levels in patients with heart failure and investigate their clinical significance. Methods The levels of plasma NPY, NT of 76 patients with heart failure and 28 normal controls were determined by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The color echocardiogram was used to evaluate the cardiac structure, function and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Results The level of plasma NPY in patients with heart failure [(159.7 ± 56.3) ng/L] was higher than that in normal controls [(120.8 ± 51.9) ng/L] (P < 0.05), the level of plasma NT [(69.5 ± 29.6) ng/L] was significantly lower than that in normal controls [(99.1 ± 19.3) ng/L] (P < 0.01). Following the severity of heart failure, the level of plasma NPY increased, and the level of plasma NT decreased. The level of LVEF had negative correlative relationship with the level of plasma NPY (γ = -0.31, P < 0.05) and positive correlative relationship with the level of plasma NT (γ = 0.28, P < 0.05). The level of plasma NPY and NT in patients with heart failure had negative correlative relationship (γ = -0.26, P < 0.05). Conclusions The levels of plasma NPY, NT in patients with heart failure are unbalanced. This unbalance may participate in the damage of cardiac function.

Objective To investigate and compare the effect and safety of levocetirizine and cetirizine for the treatment of chronic idiopathetic urticaria (CIU). Methods A multi-center, randomized and double-blind comparative clinical trial was employed. The patients with CIU were divided into levocetirizine group and cetirizine group. Levocetirizine (5mg/day) or cetirizine (10mg/day) were taken once daily for 28 days, and were followed up on the 7th day, 14th day and 28th day after starting treatment. Results One hundred and thirty cases were evaluable for the effect and safety at the end of the study. The effective rates in levocetirizine group and in cetirizine group were 73.44% and 77.27% on the 7th day after treatment, 82.81% and 81.82% on the 14th day, and 89.06% and 81.82% at the end of the therapy respectively. There was no significant difference between the two groups. The drug adverse reaction for levocetirizine group and cetirizine group were 14.06% and 18.18% respectively, which include mouth dryness, dizziness etc. Conclusion Levocetirizine is an effective and safe agent for the treatment of CIU.

Objective To investigate the effect of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSCs) transplanted by different Methods on cardiac function of rabbits with dilated cardiomyopathy.Methods 50 white ears rabbits were given doxorubicin by intraperitoneal injection to induce dilated cardiomyopathy, and randomly divided into the model group 1, model group 2 and control group. The ADMSCs isolated and cultured in vitro were transplanted into dilated cardiomyopathy rabbits of model group 1 through multi-points injection in myocardium, and were transplanted into rabbits of model group 2 through coronary artery transplant. Those in the control group were treated with IMEM medium of the same volume through multi-points injection in myocardium. Rabbits were fed for 4 week successively and then were killed to obtain heart sample, and the survival and differentiation of transplanted cells were observed through fluorescence microscope. Before transplantation and 4 weeks after transplantation, all rabbits received ultrasonic cardiogram test and haemodynamics test to determine cardiac function.Results After transplant through the two different Methods , ADMSCs could survive and differentiate in myocardial cells. 4 weeks after transplantation, the left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) and left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV) reduced more significantly in the model group 2 compared with the model group 1 ( P<0.05～0.01), and LVSV, ejection fraction (EF), left ventricular systolic pressure, +dp/dtmax, -dp/dtmax increased more significantly ( P<0.05～0.01).Conclusion Transplanted ADMSCs can survive and differentiate in myocardial cells, and improve the heart function in rabbits with dilated cardiomyopathy. It is more conducive to the effectiveness of ADMSCs to improve the heart function through the method of coronary artery transplant.

Objective To evaluate the clinical value of Multi-slice Spiral CT(MSCT) and coronary artery imaging in diagnosing coronary artery myocardial bridges (MBs). Methods Image data of 285 patients from July 2005 to July 2008 who accepted both the MSCT and coronary angiography CAG at our hospital were collected. Diagnostic performance of the two Methods were analysed and the diagnostic accuracy were compared. Results In 285 cases of patients with MSCT examinations, 82 coronary artery were diagnosed in 59 cases, the detection rate of which was 20.7%. In contrast, 16 cases were diagnosed by CAG and the detection rate was 5.6%. In the 82 coronary artery diagnosed by MSCT, 42 coronary artery were single vessel, the proportion was 71.19%. Others were two vessels or three vessels. There were 67 in left anterior descending artery (LAD),in which 52 were near the middle and 15 were distal. 26 MBs diagnosed by MSCT were included in the 28 MBs diagnosed by CAG. Put CAG as the gold standard of myocardial bridge detecting, then MSCT's sensitivity was 92.86%. Conclusion MSCT coronary artery imaging can accurately show the anatomical relationship between coronary artery and myocardial and it is one of the preferred method of diagnosing coronary artery.

Objective:To observe features of ambulatory blood pressure in aged patients With hypertension complicated coro-nary heart disease (CHD)and explore the relationship betWeen abnormal ambulatory blood pressure and coronary athero-sclerosis.Methods:According to coronary angiographic results,a total of 220 aged patients With hypertension (>60 years) Were divided into hypertension+ CHD group (n=124)and single hypertension group (n=96).Both groups received 24h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM),24h blood pressure (BP),BP variability,pulse pressure and circadian rhythm of blood pressure Were recorded.Results:Compared With single hypertension group,there Were significant increase in 24h,daytime,nighttime mean systolic blood pressure (SBP),SBP variability [dSSD (14.01±4.26)vs. (17.54± 5.51),nSSD (15.05±4.01)vs. (19.32±3.71)],pulse pressure [dPP (56.66±7.43)mmHg vs. (66.32±13.62) mmHg,nPP (55.71±6.62)mmHg vs. (63.86±7.52)mmHg] (P<0.05 all)and percentage of non-dipper rhythm (60.32% vs.82.45%)in hypertension+CHD group,P<0.01.Conclusion:There are significant increase in systolic blood pressure,SBP variability and pulse pressure,percentages of abnormal circadian rhythm in aged patients With hyper-tension complicated coronary heart disease, these abnormality may be related to occurrence and development of coronary atherosclerosis in aged patients With hypertension.

Objective To evaluate the effects of prone position ventilation (PPV) combined with inhalation of NO on oxygenation of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients.Methods A total of 21 patients with ARDS composed of 15 male and 6 female aged ranging from 2 to 74 years with mean age of 39 ± 17.4 years were hospitalized from September 2008 through January 2011.After application of mechanical ventilation with optimal PEEP,patients still needed the high concentration oxygen inhalation (FiO2 ≥ 60％).They were randomly (random number) divided into three groups for controlled study.Patients of group A were given NO in addition to oxygen inhalation for 4 hours,patients of group B were put in prone position ventilation with oxygen inhalation for 2 hours,then they were returned to the supine position ventilation,and patients of group C were put into prone position ventilation with inhalation of oxygen plus NO for 2 hours,and then they were returned to the supine position ventilation,but they were continued to inhaled NO.The oxygenation indexes of three groups of patients were measured before the intervention,2 hours and 4 hours after the procedure of experiment.Results The oxygenation indexes of three groups of patients were improved in terms of comparison between pre-intervention and 2 hours after intervention,but there was no statistically significant difference found in group A (P ＞ 0.05),the differences in group B and group C were statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05).Compared the oxygen index between pre-intervention and 4 hours after intervention,the differences in group A and group B were not statistically significant (P ＞0.05),but the difference in group C was statistically significant (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions PPV could improve oxygenation in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients.PPV with NO inhalation could improve oxygenation in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) patients as well as effectively maintain the oxygenation after patients were returned to the supine position ventilation.Therefore prone position ventilation combined with inhalation of NO improved oxygenation and at the same time reduced the prone position time.

ObjectiveTo investigate the optimun approach to induce the atherosclerotic rat model.MethodsThree methods were used to induce atherosclerotic model, including: simple high fat diet feeding, high fat diet feeding with gastric perfusion of Vitamin D3, and gastric perfusion of Vitamin D3 with common rat food (splashed oil on the normal rat food with yolks and peanuts). Histopathology change of the atherosclerotic plaques in aorta was observed by normal and histopathologic sections and Hematoxylin staining.ResultsThe endarterium of aorta of the rats with simple high fat diet was smooth without atherosclerotic plaques after 2 months. 2 rats with high fat diet feeding and gastric perfusion of Vitamin D3 had formed miliary atherosclerotic plaques. In the rats with vitamin D3 and common rat food, the ring-shape calcified atherosclerotic plaques were found in the all endarterium of aorta.ConclusionGastric perfusion of Vitamin D3 once a week (3 times) combined with common rat diet could induce the atherosclerotic model successfully and decrease the mortality rate.

Objective To discuss the imaging features of skeletal changes in children with Gaucher disease on X-ray and MRI images.Methods One hundred and nine children with Gaucher disease were enrolled in this study.They all received routine X-ray for spine with anterior-posterior(A-P)and lateral view and bilateral femurs with A-P view.Among them.18 patients received X-ray for pelvic with A-P view.14 patients received X-ray for left wrist with A-P view.and 14 patients received MRI scan for femur.The MRI scan included T1-weighted imaging,T2-weighted imaging and fat-suppressed T2-weighted imaging with short tau inversion recovery(STIR)sequence.The imaging features of the X-ray and MRI images were analyzed retrospectively.Results The most common feature is osteoporosis,which presented in 91 cases (83.5%).Besides this,decreased density of metaphysis occurred in 86 cases(78.9%).erlenmeyer flask deformity of metaphysis occurred in 89 patients(81.7%),thinner cortex occurred in 69 cases(63.3%),osteolytic destruction occurred in 31 cases(28.4%).pathological fractures occurred in 26 cases (23.9%),osteosclerosis occurred in 12 cases(11.0%).cystic degeneration of bone occurred in 16 cases (14.7%),and dislocation of the hip occurred in 4 cases.All 14 patients received MRI presented abnormal signals.Among them,4 patients presented low signal intensity both on T1-weighted and T2-weighted images in bone marrow;the other ten presented high signal intensity mixed in low signal intensity areas on T2-weighted and fat-suppressed T2-weighted images.Conclusions The imaging features of skeletal changes in children with Gaucher disease are of some characteristics,which could provide useful information for the clinical treatment.

OBJECTIVETo establish an in vitro cell model for investigating hepatic steatosis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

METHODSL-02 cells cultured in 1640 containing 10% fetal bovine serum were divided into control group and model group. At 70%-80% confluency, L-02 cells in the model group were exposed to a long-chain mixture of free fatty acids (FFA, oleate and palmitate ) for 24 h, and cells in control group were treated with fresh medium. Lipid droplets in the cells were observed and total lipid content was determined with Oil Red O staining. The morphology of lipid droplets, trilyceride level, malonaldehyde content and cell apoptosis rate were evaluated to verify the cell model, and the effect of Huganqingzhi tablet on the lipid droplets was observed.

RESULTSA large number of lipid droplets were found in the cell model, which showed markedly increased level of triglyceride without significant changes of malonadehyde content or cell apoptosis rate. Intervention with two doses of Huganqingzhi tablet significantly decreased the number of lipid droplets and trilyceride content in the cell model.

CONCLUSIONhepatic steatosis L-02 cell model can be established by long-chain mixture of free fatty acids (oleate:spalmitate=2:1) for therapeutic drug studies.

Apoptosis ; Cell Line ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Fatty Acids, Nonesterified ; chemistry ; Fatty Liver ; Humans ; Malondialdehyde ; analysis ; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ; Triglycerides ; analysis