Since 1995, four different types of artificial heart pumps and artificial valvo-pumps have been developed in Jiangsu University of China. Three types of heart pumps and valvo-pumps have been applied in animal experiments in University Texas, Medical Branch, USA and in Zhenjiang No.1 People's Hospital of China. The recently-developed UJS-IV pump is a totally implantable trans-ventricular and cross-valvular pump for emergercy treatments.
Equipment Design ; Heart Valve Prosthesis ; Heart, Artificial ; Heart-Assist Devices

Objective To establish a method of measuring adipose content and fat distribution of the thigh in normal glucose tolerance (NGT) subjects,and to investigate its relation to insulin resistance.Methods Insulin sensitivity was evaluated by hyperinsulinemic and euglycemic clamp technique,and femoral adipose content and fat distribution were determined by MRI in 30 individuals with NGT including 15 with normal weight and 15 overweighted or obese subjects.Results Compared to normal weight group,the subscutaneous adipose tissue of thigh (SCAT) [(176.7?21.6) cm~2 vs (115.0?12.8 ) cm~2,P＜0.05],adipose tissue of thigh beneath the fascia (SFAT) [(75.4?4.4 ) cm~2 vs (57.5?4.7 ) cm~2,P＜0.01] and intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) [(28.3?3.2) cm~2 vs (14.5?1.1 ) cm~2,P＜0.01] were greater in overweight/obesity group.Overweight/ obesity group had lower insulin sensitivity( glucose disposal rate under steady state of hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp:4.54?0.43 vs 7.88?0.75,P＜0.01).SFAT and IMAT were significantly correlated with insulin sensitivity.SFAT showed the most marked correlation with insulin sensitivity.Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that the increased SFAT played a pivotal role in insulin resistance.Conclusion The adipose content and fat distribution are highly correlated with insulin sensitivity and the adipose tissue of thigh beneath fascia may play the most significant role in insulin sensitivity.

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of qianggu capsules (QGC) on the fracture healing and the bone mineral density (BMD) in radius distal osteoporosis fracture (RDOF) patients.

METHODSBone mineral density (BMD) of femoral neck in 65 patients with RDOF was detected after the fracture was fixed manually. They were then randomly divided into two groups. Thirty-three patients in the treated group took QC, 1 capsule (180 mg) each time, three times a day, while 32 patients in the control group took D-Cal Biocal 2 tablets (1500 mg) each time, once daily. The therapeutic course for both groups was three months. X-ray examination on the broken end of the fractured bone was taken every month to observe the bony callus formation for comparing the curative effect, and BMD of femoral neck were detected again after patients were treated for 3 months. The bony callus appeared earlier, more in volume with thicker cortex in the treated group after 2 months of treatment versus that in the control group. The fracture healing time in the treated group was 9.4 +/- 2.5 weeks and that in the control group was 12.5 +/- 2.9 weeks, showing significant difference between them (P < 0.05). BMD in the treated group before treatment was 0.621 +/- 0.085 g/cm2, which was lower than that after treatment (0.646 +/- 0.090 g/cm2) with significant difference showing between them (P < 0.05), while no significant change of BMD was found in the control group between before and after treatment, and significant difference was found in BMD between the two groups after treatment (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONQGC can promote the formation of bony callus ahead of time, increase the volume of bony callus and BMD, improve the bone structure, and thus the time of external fixation in treating RDOF could be reduced.

Aged ; Bone Density ; Capsules ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Fracture Healing ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis ; complications ; Phytotherapy ; Radius Fractures ; complications ; drug therapy

OBJECTIVETo study the clinical characteristics of hypertensive subjects with metabolic syndrome and its components in communities.

METHODSTotally 5628 subjects aged over 20 years were included. Measurement indicators included height, weight, waist circumference (W) , hip circumference, systolic pressure (SP) , diastolic pressure (DP) , total cholesterol ( TC) , triglyceride (TG) , high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) , low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) , fasting plasma glucose (FPG) , 2 h postprandial plasma glucose (2hPG) , fasting serum insulin (FIN) , and 2 h postprandial serum insulin (2hIN). Body mass index (BMI) , waist to hip ratio (WHR), and homeostatic model approach-insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) were calculated. According to 1999 WHO definition of metabolic syndrome, these individuals were divided into 4 groups: non-metabolic disorder group, isolated hypertension group, hypertension with one component of metabolic syndrome group, hypertension with two components of metabolic syndrome group, and hypertension with three components of metabolic syndrome group.

RESULTSAmong subjects with hypertension, 15. 37% were patients with isolated hypertension, 32. 40% with one component of metabolic syndrome, 33. 36% with two components of metabolic syndrome, and 18. 87% with three components of metabolic syndrome. BMI, W, WHR, TC, TG, LDL-C, FPG, 2hPG, FIN, 2hIN and HOMA-IR in three groups (hypertension with one component of metabolic syndrome group, hypertension with two components of metabolic syndrome group, and hypertension with three components of metabolic syndrome group) significantly increased than those in isolated hypertension group (P < 0. 01 ). The hypertensive patients showed a higher insulin resistance, despite other metabolic disorders. Furthermore, the hypertensive patients with more components of metabolic syndrome showed a higher chance to get insulin resistance. Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed FPG, 2hPG, FIN, 2hIN, BMI, SP and TC were risk factors of HOMA-IR.

CONCLUSIONSPatients with isolated hypertension are rare in community-based population. About 85% of hypertensive patients have more than one metabolic disorders, more than half of were metabolic syndrome. The percentage of total body fat, levels of plasma glucose, serum insulin, total cholesterol and systolic blood pressure are independent risk factors of insulin resistance.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Body Fat Distribution ; Body Mass Index ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; complications ; epidemiology ; metabolism ; Insulin ; blood ; Insulin Resistance ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome ; complications ; epidemiology ; metabolism ; Middle Aged ; Waist-Hip Ratio

Objective To assay serum apelin level in obesity and newly-diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients and investigate the relationship between serum apelin level and body fat parameter,glucose and lipid metabolism and insulin resistance index,etc.Methods Sixty-two patients with type 2 DM and 72 subjects with normal glucose regulation (NGR) were selected and each group was divided into obese and non-obese subgroups according to body mass index (BMI)≥25 kg/m~2 or

Objective: To explore the effect of bone transport external fixation combined with locking bone plate internal fixation technology in the treatment of segmental tibial defects. Methods: The clinical data of 12 patients with segmental tibial defects treated with annular external fixator and long locking plate in the Honghui Hospital, Xi′an Jiaotong University College of Medicine from January 2013 to March 2017 were analyzed retrospectively. There were 10 males and 2 females with an average age of 45 years (aged range from 20 to 65 years). External fixation time, external fixation index, healing time, mean healing index and complications were recorded. The follow-up time was 12-48 months, and the Paley bone and functional scores were used to evaluate the efficacy at the last follow-up. Results: All the patients achieved union at the distraction callus and docking site. The average external fixation time was 112.1 d, the average external fixation index was 16.5 d/cm, the average healing time was 299.5 d, and the average healing index was 44.9 d/cm. Seven cases had pain and 4 cases had pin-site infections as minor complications. The bony outcomes were excellent in all patients. The functional outcomes were excellent in eight cases and good in four. Conclusion Bone transport with external fixation combined with locking plate internal fixation in the treatment of segmental bone defects of tihia can shorten external fixation time and is beneficial to functional rehabilitation after operation.

OBJECTIVETo observe the change of behavior, pathological change of the spinal cord,and expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (NGF) on rats with spinal cord injury in order to explore the optimal time of BMSCs transplantation.

METHODSEighty health SD rats were randomly divided into 8 groups (group A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H), 10 rats in each group. According to the modified Allen method,the rat model of spinal cord injury was built. Group A as non-injured group only exposed the spinal cord but not result in blast injury. BMSCs of vitro culture were respectively infunded the region of spinal cord injury in group C, D, E, F, G, H (as transplantation groups) at the 0 h, 6 h, 24 h,3 d,5 d,7 d after model made. Group B as single model group was infunded the equal cell culture fluid. BBB score was used to evaluate the function of spinal cord at the 1st,2nd and 4th weeks after injury. The morphological changes of the tissue of spinal cord injury were observed by HE stain and the expression of BDNF and NGF were detected by Elisa method at the 4th weeks after BMSCs transplantation.

RESULTSIn non-injured group,BBB score was highest than that of other 7 groups at the 1st, 2nd and 4th weeks after injury (P<0.01). There was no significant difference in BBB score between single model group and transplantation groups at the 1st week after BMSCs transplantation (P>0.05). BBB score in transplantation groups were higher than that of single model group at the 2nd and 4th weeks after BMSCs transplantation (P<0.05). At the 2nd week after injury, BBB score from high to low was group F,E,G,D,H,C,but there was no significant difference among the groups (P>0.05). At the 4th week after injury,there was significant differences in BBB score between group F and other transplantation groups (group C,D,E,G,H)(P0.05). The levels of BDNF and NGF in group F was highest at the 4th week after BMSCs transplantation (P<0.05). In non-injured group,HE staining showed the struction of spinal cord was clear and complete,no neutrophil was found. But in other 7 groups,HE staining showed obviously oedema at local tissue,juncture of gray and white matter was undefined,and different gliocyte proliferation and inflammatory cell infiltrate cound be found.

CONCLUSIONAllogeneic BMSCs transplantation is effective to stimulate the recovery of spinal cord function in rats with spinal cord injury,and the optimal time of BMSCs transplantation maybe at the 3 d after injury.

Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; genetics ; Female ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Nerve Growth Factor ; genetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spinal Cord Injuries ; metabolism ; pathology ; therapy ; Transplantation, Homologous

BACKGROUNDType 2 diabetes is a chronic disease characterized by a progressive loss of beta cell functions. However, the evaluation of beta cell functions is either expensive or inconvenient for clinical practice. We aimed to elucidate the association between the changes of insulin responsiveness and the fasting plasma glucose (FPG) during the development of diabetes.

METHODSA total of 1192 Chinese individuals with normal blood glucose or hyperglycemia were enrolled for the analysis. The early insulinogenic index (DeltaI30/DeltaG30), the area under the curve of insulin (AUC-I), and homeostasis model assessment were applied to evaluate the early phase secretion, total insulin secretion, and insulin resistance respectively. Polynomial regression analysis was performed to estimate the fluctuation of beta cell functions.

RESULTSThe DeltaI30/DeltaG30 decreased much more rapidly than the AUC-I accompanying with the elevation of FPG. At the FPG of 110 mg/dl (a pre-diabetic stage), the DeltaI30/DeltaG30 lost 50% of its maximum while the AUC-I was still at a compensated normal level. The AUC-I exhibited abnormal and decreased gradually at the FPG of from 130 mg/dl to higher (overt diabetes), while the DeltaI30/DeltaG30 almost remained at 25% of its maximum value. When hyperglycemia continuously existed at > 180 mg/dl, both the DeltaI30/DeltaG30 and AUC-I were totally lost.

CONCLUSIONThe increased fasting plasma glucose reflects progressive decompensation of beta cell functions, and could be used to guide the strategy of clinical treatments.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Blood Glucose ; analysis ; Diabetes Mellitus ; blood ; physiopathology ; Fasting ; blood ; Female ; Humans ; Insulin ; secretion ; Insulin Resistance ; Insulin-Secreting Cells ; physiology ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of allitridum on rapidly delayed rectifier potassium current (IKr) in HEK293 cell line.

METHODSHEK293 cells were transiently transfected with HERG channel cDNA plasmid pcDNA3.1 via Lipofectamine. Allitridum was added to the extracellular solution by partial perfusion after giga seal at the final concentration of 30 µmol/L. Whole-cell patch clamp technique was used to record the HERG currents and gating kinetics before and after allitridum exposure at room temperature.

RESULTSThe amplitude and density of IHERG were both suppressed by allitridum in a voltage-dependent manner. In the presence of allitridum, the peak current of IHERG was reduced from 73.5∓4.3 pA/pF to 42.1∓3.6 pA/pF at the test potential of +50 mV (P<0.01). Allitridum also concentration-dependently decreased the density of the IHERG. The IC50 of allitridum was 34.74 µmol/L with a Hill coefficient of 1.01. Allitridum at 30 µmol/L caused a significant positive shift of the steady-state activation curve of IHERG and a markedly negative shift of the steady-state inactivation of IHERG, and significantly shortened the slow time constants of IHERG deactivation.

CONCLUSIONAllitridum can potently block IHERG in HEK293 cells, which might be the electrophysiological basis for its anti-arrhythmic action.

Allyl Compounds ; pharmacology ; Anti-Arrhythmia Agents ; Delayed Rectifier Potassium Channels ; drug effects ; Ether-A-Go-Go Potassium Channels ; HEK293 Cells ; drug effects ; Humans ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Potassium Channel Blockers ; pharmacology ; Sulfides ; pharmacology ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo observe the effect of a Chinese medicine compound, Naoerkang (NEK), on amyloid-beta peptide (1-42; Aβ(1-42)) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expressions in the hippocampus of Alzheimer's disease (AD) model rats.

METHODSA total of 48 male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into normal control, untreated, and piracetam groups, and low-dose, medium-dose, and high-dose NEK groups, with 8 rats in each group. The 5-μL aggregated Aβ(1-42) (2 μg/μL) were injected into both CA1 areas of the hippocampus in the rats to establish an AD model, whereas the normal control was treated with the same dose of normal saline. The rats in the NEK groups were treated with a high, medium, or low dose of NEK [60 g/(kg·d), 30 g/(kg·d), and 15 g/(kg·d)], respectively, intragastrically for 28 days; piracetam (0.375 g/kg, intragastrically) was consecutively administered in the piracetam group; and normal saline was applied in the normal control and untreated groups. A Y-maze test was used for behavioral study to test the learning and memory abilities. Aβ(1-42) and MMP-9 expressions in the hippocampus was determined immunohistochemically, and the results were analyzed by image acquisition and an analysis system.

RESULTSAggregated Aβ(1-42) induced obvious learning and memory dysfunction, as well as up-regulation of Aβ(1-42) expression in the hippocampus. Compared with those in the normal control group, the learning and memory abilities of rats in the untreated group significantly decreased (P<0.01), and the expression of Aβ(1-42) was significantly increased (P<0.01). Twenty-eight days after different treatments, compared with those in the untreated group, the learning and memory abilities of AD model rats in the piracetam, low-dose, medium-dose and high-dose NEK groups were significantly improved (P<0.01 or P<0.05), and the expression of Aβ(1-42) in the hippocampus decreased (P<0.01 or P<0.05), and MMP-9 increased (P<0.01 or P<0.05), especially in the high-dose NEK group.

CONCLUSIONNEK might play a role of anti-dementia by increasing the expression of MMP-9 in the hippocampus of AD model rats, resulting in the reduction of the quantity of Aβ(1-42) and improvement in learning and memory ability in AD model rats.

Alzheimer Disease ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Amyloid beta-Peptides ; metabolism ; Animals ; CA1 Region, Hippocampal ; drug effects ; enzymology ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Hippocampus ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; physiopathology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Male ; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 ; metabolism ; Memory ; drug effects ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley