Objective To explore the expression of Toll-like receptor 4(TLR4) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) on peripheral-blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs) and their correlation with myocardial perfusion in patients with diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM).Methods The expression of TLR4 and TNF-α mRNA on PBMCs were examined by SYBR GreenⅠreal-time quantitative reverse transcription ploymerse chain reaction (RT-PCR), the levels of TLR4 and TNF-α were examined by flow cytometric analysis and enzyme-linked immuno sorbent assay (ELISA) on DCM group (n=20) , Type 2 diabetic group (n=22) and control group (n=20). Myocardial perfusion was visualized by single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). Results The expressions of TLR4 and TNF-α mRNA/protein on PBMCs in DCM group were significantly higher than in Type 2 diabetic group, and higher in Type 2 diabetic group than in control groups(P<0.05); summed stress score (SSS)and summed rest score (SRS) of myocardial perfusion in DCM group were significantly higher than in Type 2 diabetic group, and higher in Type 2 diabetic group than in control groups(P<0.01).The expression of TLR4, TNF-α was positively correlated with SSS (r=0.75,P<0.05;r=0.931,P<0.005) and SRS(r=0.78,P<0.005; r=0.789,P<0.005). SSS and SRS in DCM group were also positively correlated with soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) (r=0.728,P<0.005; r=0.738,P<0.005) but there was no correlation between SSS and SRS and brain natriuretic peptide, LVEF, E/A, HbA1c, FBG, FIN and LDL-C (P>0.05).Conclusion The increased expression of TLR4 and TNF-α mRNA/protein on PBMCs and increased serum sVCAM-1 is linked with reduced myocardial perfusion in DCM group. TLR4 and TNF-α may thus play a critical role in the myocardial perfusion inflammation injury in these patients.

Objective:To observe the impact of diabetes mellitus (DM)on pacing parameters and postoperative com-plications in patients With implantation of permanent artificial cardiac pacemaker.Methods:A total of 80 patients With sick sinus syndrome,Who received implantation of permanent artificial cardiac pacemaker from Jun 2008 to Jun 2011,Were enrolled.According to complicated With DM or not,they Were divided into DM group (n=40)and non-DM control group (n=40).Pacing parameters and postoperative complications Were compared betWeen tWo groups.Results:There Were no significant difference in atrial and ventricular pacing threshold,sensing and of pace-maker impedance in baseline betWeen tWo groups (P>0.05).All parameters of pacemaker increased in tWo groups after implantation 12 months;compared With non-DM control group,there Were significant increase in pacing threshold [atrial:(0.59±0.23)V vs.(0.67±0.25)V,ventricular:(0.47±0.28)V vs.(0.54±0.35)V],sens-ing [atrial:(2.33±1.16)mV vs.(2.92±1.36)mV,ventricular:(12.21±4.82)mV vs.(12.77±5.36)mV], impedance [atrial:(537.12±115.32)Ωvs.(662.48±235.26)Ω,ventricular:(602.48±222.46)Ωvs.(762.41± 235.38)Ω]of pacemaker in DM group,P<0.05 or <0.01;and incidence rate of postoperative complications (12.5%)in DM group Was significantly higher than that of non-DM control group (5%),P<0.05.Conclusion:Electrocardiographic reconstruction is more severe in SSS patients complicated DM,in these patients postoperative complication incidence significantly elevates.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Ginger has been used to treat a number of diseases including those affecting the digestive tract. This study was aimed to investigate the effects of ginger on gallbladder volume and gastrointestinal sensation in healthy male subjects. METHODS: Nineteen healthy male volunteers (age 21.3 +/- 3.9 years, body mass index 21.6 +/- 1.9 kg/m2) were studied on 2 occasions in a double blind randomized crossover design. After ingesting ginger (1,200 mg) or placebo capsules (starch), abdominal ultrasound was used to measure the gallbladder volume (calculated from gallbladder width, depth and diameter) and ejection fraction following a standard test meal. Gastrointestinal symptoms were also recorded at regular intervals by visual analogue scales. RESULTS: There were no differences in gallbladder volume or ejection fraction between ginger and placebo. Abdominal symptoms of bloating, fullness, nausea, discomfort and hunger was not different between the 2 occasions. CONCLUSIONS: Ginger (1,200 mg) may not affect gallbladder ejection fraction and possible relevant abdominal symptoms in healthy male human subjects.
Abdomen ; Body Mass Index ; Capsules ; Cross-Over Studies ; Gallbladder ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Ginger ; Humans ; Hunger ; Male ; Meals ; Nausea ; Sensation

BACKGROUNDPost-operation pain is a very subjective phenomenon. The aim of this study was to find out the effects of acupuncture or electro-acupuncture on post-cesarean pain.

METHODSSixty women, who had had spinal anesthesia during cesarean section at the Department of Obstetrics of China Medical University Hospital, were randomly assigned to the control group, the acupuncture group, and the electro-acupuncture group. After the operation, we applied subjects with acupuncture or electro-acupuncture on the bilateral acupuncture point, San Yin Jiao (Sp6), and the patient controlled analgesia (PCA). The first time of requesting morphine, the frequency of PCA demands in 24 hours, and the doses of PCA used were recorded double blindly. In addition, monitoring the subjects' vital signs, the opioid-related side effects, and the pain scores was done.

RESULTSThe results showed that the acupuncture group and the electro-acupuncture group could delay the time of requesting morphine up to 10 - 11 minutes when compared with the control group. The total dose of PCA used within the first 24 hours was 30% - 35% less in the acupuncture group and the electro-acupuncture group when compared with the control group, which was indicated in statistical significance. However, there was no significant difference between the acupuncture group and the electro-acupuncture group. The electro-acupuncture group's and the acupuncture group's pain scores were lower than the control group's within the first 2 hours. Both were statistically significant. However, two hours later, there were no significant differences of the visual analogue scale (VAS) scores between either of the treatment groups and the control group. Finally, the incidence of opioid-related side effects, such as dizziness, was less in the acupuncture group and electro-acupuncture group than in the control group.

CONCLUSIONSThis study shows that the application of acupuncture and electro-acupuncture could definitely delay the time of requesting pain relief medication after cesarean section and decrease the PCA doses used within the first 24 hours.

Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Adult ; Analgesics ; therapeutic use ; Cesarean Section ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Morphine ; therapeutic use ; Pain, Postoperative ; drug therapy ; therapy ; Pregnancy

Objective To investigate the safety and efficacy of novel bioabsorbable vascular scaffold(BVS)in the treatment of patients with complex coronary artery disease.Methods This was a retrospective,matched,single-center observational study.45 patients with coronary atherosclerotic cardiopathy received BVS treatment in the cardiovascular medicine department Department of the Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University from June 2020 to June 2021(BVS),and 45 patients treated with drug-eluting stents(DES)group were selected according to matching study requirements during the same period.Baseline,surgical,and follow-up data were compared between the two groups to evaluate safety and efficacy.The main measures of safety were:surgical time,intraoperative adverse events,etc.,and the end point of efficacy was target lesion failure(TLF),including cardiac death,target vessel myocardial infarction,and ischa-driven target lesion revascularization.Results A total of 90 patients were enrolled in this study,all of whom were followed up for at least 3 years.There were 20 cases of bifurcation lesions and 25 cases of diffuse long lesions in the two groups,and 50 cases of imaging were reviewed among the 90 patients.The proportion of stable coronary heart disease,history of diabetes,history of hypertension,history of smoking,pre-dilated balloon pressure and postoperative diastolic blood pressure in BVS group was higher than that in DES group,and the proportion of family history was lower than that in DES group(all P＜0.05).There were no statistically significant differences in the rates of cardiac death,target vessel myocardial infarction,and ischemia-driven revascularization of target lesions between the two groups(all P＞0.05).Binary Logistic regression model analysis showed that the diameter stenosis ratio of target lesions was an independent risk factor for intrastent restenosis(OR 2.786,95％CI 1.096-7.081,P=0.031).Conclusions Compared with traditional DES,BVS implantation has consistent safety and efficacy in the treatment of complex coronary artery disease within 3 years.The diameter stenosis ratio of target lesions was an independent risk factor for intrastent restenosis.