Objective: To investigate the rate of post-stroke depression and psychosocial factors related to it, and to provide the direction and the basis for clinical nursing. Methods: 69 patients with stroke were assessed by Zung Self-rating Depression Scale and Type A Behavior Pattern Scale. Their sex, age, behavior type, marital condition, level of education, supportor of medical expenses were collected and analysed statistically. Results: The rate of post-stroke depression was 59.42%, and the rate in type A behavior group was higher than that in the other behavior groups(P

AIM:To investigate the effect of activation of retinoid X receptor (RXR) on transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) induced collagen synthesis under hypoxic environment in rat cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) and underlying molecular mechanisms .METHODS: CFs were cultured using myocardial tissue with dry method .Hypoxic environment was established for CFs by continuous nitrogen supplement .Type I and type III collagens in supernatants were detected by ELISA.Nuclear and cytoplasmic extractions were prepared using NE-PER nuclear and cytoplasmic extraction reagents .The protein levels of Smad2 and p-Smad2 were determined by Western blot and immunocytochemical staining .RESULTS:Un-der hypoxic condition , TGF-β1 (0.01~10 μg/L) increased the synthesis of type I and type III collagens in a dose-de-pendent manner in the CFs .At the concentration of 5μg/L, the synthesis of collagen I and III was significantly increased as compared with control group (P<0.01).RXR agonist 9-cis-retinoic acid (9-cis-RA;10 -9 ~10 -6 mol/L) decreased TGF-β1 (5μg/L)-induced synthesis of type I and III collagens in a dose-dependent manner in the CFs under hypoxic con-dition.The synthesis of type I and type III collagens was significantly inhibited by 9-cis-RA (P<0.01).Smad2 inhibitor ( 20 nmol/L) showed similar inhibitory effect on the synthesis of type I and III collagens induced by TGF -β1 under hypoxic condition.Compared with TGF-β1 intervention group, the cytoplasmic level of p-Smad2 in the CFs was significantly in-creased in TGF-β1+9-cis-RA group, but the nuclear p-Smad2 level was significantly decreased (P<0.05).CONCLU-SION:Retinoid X receptor agonist 9-cis-RA inhibits TGF-β1-induced synthesis of type I and type III collagens in the CFs by repressing p-Smad2 nuclear translocation under hypoxic condition .

[ABSTRACT]AIM:ToexploretheeffectofretinoidXreceptor(RXR)agonistbexarotene(Bex)andvitaminD receptor (VDR) agonist calcitriol (Cal) on the expression of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and the development of atherosclerosis in streptozotocin-induced diabetic apolipoprotein E knockout ( STZ-ApoE-/-) mice.METHODS: Male mice were treated for 12 weeks as follows:(1) C57+vehicle;(2) ApoE-/-+vehicle;(3) STZ-ApoE-/-+vehicle;(4) STZ-ApoE-/-+Bex (10 mg· kg-1· d-1);(5) STZ-ApoE-/-+Cal (10 μg/kg, twice a week);(6) STZ-ApoE-/-+Bex (10 mg· kg-1· d-1) +Cal (10 μg/kg, twice a week).Intraperitoneal injection of STZ was performed to establish the diabetic animal model .Western blotting and immunohistochemical method was used to detect NF-κB level in the thorac-ic aorta.Plaque area in the thoracic aorta was measured using HE staining .RESULTS:Compared with the C57 mice, the fasting blood glucose in the ApoE-/-mice was not remarkably changed .The levels of total cholesterol ( TC) and low-densi-ty lipoprotein ( LDL) were greatly increased .The fasting blood glucose and lipid levels in STZ-ApoE-/-group were much higher than those in ApoE-/-group.Compared with STZ-ApoE-/-group, the fasting blood glucose and lipid levels in Bex group and Cal group were not significantly changed .Compared with the C57 mice, the protein expression of NF-κB in the ApoE-/-mice and the STZ-ApoE-/-mice was remarkably increased .Compared with STZ-ApoE-/-group, the levels of NF-κB in Bex group, Cal group and combination group were greatly decreased .Compared with STZ-ApoE-/-group, the thoracic artery plaque areas in Bex group and Cal group were inhibited (both P<0.05).Compared with Bex group, the plaque area of the thoracic artery in combination group was significantly decreased (P<0.05).CONCLUSION:Bexaro-tene or calcitriol decreases the development of atherosclerosis in streptozotocin -induced diabetic ApoE-/-mice.Bexarotene combined with calcitriol affords greater protection than monotherapy .The mechanism may be involved in down-regulating the expression of NF-κB.

AIM:To observe the effect of micronised fenofibrate(lipanthyl)on lipotoxicity and insulin sensitivity(IS)in spontaneously hypertensive rats(SHR)with high-fat diet.METHODS:Twenty-seven SHR were randomly divided into three groups:normal chow group(n=9),high-fat diet group(n=9)and micronised fenofibrate treatment group(n=9).Micronised fenofibrate 100 mg?kg-1?d-1 was given orally to SHR,which diet on high-fat diet for three months.Intramuscular lipids were observed and lipids accumulation index(LAI)was calculated.Nonesterified fatty acid,glucose and insulin were determined in all rats.RESULTS:(1)Compared to SHR in normal chow diet group,body weight and the level of serum TG and TC increased significantly and the level of HDL-C decreased significantly in SHR fed with high-fat diet(P

BACKGROUND:In recent years, there are many animal studies and osteoblast studies on the anti-osteoporotic effects of puerarin, a kind of phytoestrogen. But few of them are reported on the effects of puerarin on osteoblasts in older patients with osteoporosis. OBJECTIVE: To observe the influence of puerarin on the proliferation ofin vitro cultured osteoblasts from older female patients with osteoporosis. METHODS:The older female patients with osteoporotic femoral neck fractures who underwent artificial femoral head replacement were included in this study. The femoral neck cancelous bone removed during the operation was colected. Primary cancelous bone osteoblasts were cultured using explant culture method. The cels were sub-cultured to the required amounts. Osteoblasts from the control group were cultured with culture medium without puerarin. Osteoblasts from the 0.01, 0.1, and 1 μmol/L puerarin groups were cultured with culture medium containing the corresponding concentrations of puerarin. After in vitro co-culture with different concentrations of puerarin for 1, 3, 5 days, the proliferation of osteoblasts was observed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:With the increase in the concentration of puerarin, the proliferative activity of
osteoblasts constantly increased at different time points (P < 0.05). At 3 days of culture, cel absorbance value in each group reached the peak level. These results suggest that 0.01, 0.1, 1μmol/L puerarin promotes the proliferation of osteoblasts in older patients with osteoporosis in a concentration-dependent manner.

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the effects of puerarin on bone mineral density around the femoral prosthesis of el-derly women after osteoporotic fracture artificial hip joint replacement. METHODS:99 elderly women after osteoporotic fracture artificial hip joint replacement were divided into control group(49 cases)and test group(50 cases)according to random number table. Control group received conventional treatment:calcium carbonate and vitamin D3+alendronate sodium+salmon calcitonin;test group was additionally given Puerarin injection 200-400 mg dissolved in Glucose injection 500 ml intravenously,qd,on the basis of control group. A treatment course lasted for 20 d,and both groups received 2 courses of treatment. The hip joint function score and bone mineral density around the femoral prosthesis of 2 groups were observed and compared after surgery,and the oc-currence of ADR was also observed. RESULTS:3 and 2 patients withdrew from control group and test group,respectively. 18 months after surgery,the patients with hip joint function score ranged 70-79 in test group was significantly less than in control group;the rate of excellent hip joint function score in test group was significantly higher than in control group,with statistical significance (P<0.05). 15 and 18 months after surgery,bone mineral density in R1-R5 range of Gruen range in test group was slightly higher than in control group,without statistical significance(P>0.05);bone mineral density in R6-R7 range was signifi-cantly higher than control group(89.58% vs. 69.57%),with statistical significance(P<0.05). The prosthesis loosening was not found in both groups,and ADR was also not found as fever,erythra,nausea,vomiting,headache,dizziness,etc. CONCLU-SIONS:For the use of puerarin in elderly women after osteoporotic fracture artificial hip joint replacement,puerarin can increase the periprosthetic femur bone mineral density with good safety.

Objective To evaluate the clinical value of CT/MR-contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) image fusion in immediate assessment for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)ablation.Methods Patients diagnosed with HCC to receive ablation therapy were randomly divided into two groups.The ablation for each patient was performed according to their pre-ablation plan.Immediate assessments for the ablation were performed using CT/MR-CEUS image fusion (IF group)and CEUS (CEUS group)separately and whether the need for additional ablations was decided and performed during the therapy.The therapy efficacy was evaluated with enhanced CT or MR 1 month after each complete ablation treatment.Results There were 101 patients with 131 nodules in IF group,and 15.1% of the nodules needed additional ablation according the immediate assessment during the therapy.The complete ablation rate of IF group was 99.2%(125/126).On the other hand,there were 93 patients with 122 nodules in CEUS group,and 4.2% of the nodules needed additional ablation according the immediate assessment during the therapy.The complete ablation rate of CEUS group was 94.2% (113/120).IF group has significantly higher additional ablation rate and complete ablation rate than CEUS group (P <0.05).Conclusions CT/MR-CEUS image fusion can further improve ablation efficacy with accurate intraoperative evaluation and guidance of additional ablation compared with CEUS.

Objective To compare the importance of heart murmurs and transcutaneous oxygen saturation (SpO2)in screening neonatal congenital heart diseases(CHD),and to explore a reliable and easy-to-use method for the screening of CHD. Methods All infants (16 070 cases) born in Changzhou Maternal and Child Health Hospital from May 1 st 2011 to April 30 th 2013 were screened of CHD for heart murmurs and SpO2 . The screen-positive infants were divided into 3 groups:heart murmurs group,abnormal SpO2 group and mixed group. All screen-positive infants re-ceived cardiac color ultrasound to make a definite diagnosis of CHD,so as to compare the values of heart murmurs and SpO2 . Results Eight thousand seven hundred and ninety-nine boys and 7 271 girls were screened,in which the ratio was 1. 21:1. 00. One hundred and eighteen infants were screened positive,including 76 murmurs of which 45 were confirmed as CHD,28 with abnormal SpO2 of which 18 were confirmed and 14 mixed of which 13 were confirmed,so the confirmation rates were 59. 21%,64. 29% and 92. 86%,respectively. The diagnostic rate of CHD in mixed group was higher than other 2 groups,which had statistical significance(P=0. 045). The top three formation types of CHD were ventricular septal defect (VSD) (29/76 cases,38. 16%),patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) (13/76 cases, 17. 11%) and atrial septal defect (ASD) (11/76 cases,14. 48%). Conclusions The combination of heart murmurs and SpO2 was useful in increasing detection and decreasing misdiagnosis of CHD.

Objective To investigate the effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on aphasia recovery after stroke. Meth-ods From April, 2012 to January, 2013, 20 aphasic patients after stroke were enrolled in an A-B experiment design. During phase A, ten times of sham tDCS and language training (five days a week) were implemented, then ten times language training combined with tDCS (five days a week) were implemented in phase B. The treatment lasted for four weeks. Picture naming was measured for all patients before and af-ter treatment both in phase A and phase B. Results The D-value scores of picture naming before and after treatment were significantly more in phase B than in phase A in both treatment items and non-treatment items (t>3.030, P<0.05). Conclusion tDCS could raise the accuracy of picture naming in patients with aphasia after stroke.

Objective To investigate the prevalence and the distribution of congenital heart disease(CHD) in Changzhou city.The clinical data of 106 CHD infants were reviewed,so as to provide some evidence for making CHD screening-evaluating-intervention system.Methods All infants(16 070 cases) born in Changzhou Maternal and Child Health Hospital from May 1st 2011 to Apr.30th 2013 were screened for CHD.The infants with CHD were followed up for one year periodically after discharge.Results One hundred and seventeen infants were screened positive,and 106 cases of them were diagnosed as CHD,and the detectable rate was 6.60‰.The top three incidence was VSD (2.18‰,35/16 070 cases),PDA(1.74‰,28/16 070 cases) and ASD(1.06‰,17/16 070 cases).Among them,81 cases were detected as cardiac souffle,and 48 cases as abnormal pulse oximetry.In 106 cases,97 cases were followed up and 9 cases did not receive follow-up.The close ratio were higher in ASD,PDA,VSD,which was 76.47％,64.29％,62.86％.The size of gap had an effect on close ratio,small gap of VSD,ASD and premature PDA were higher and medium and large gap and full-term infants were lower.Some serious type of CHD infants received operations,and others were still followed up.Conclusion The detectable rate of CHD among infants was identical to the average level of whole country.The follow-up study may improve the quality of the survival of CHD infants,and it is feasible to construct a system of screening-evaluating-intervention systcm of CHD.