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 observe the clinical effect of moxibustion on acupoint Feishu (BL13) in the treatment of acute asthma in children (cold-asthma),and to provide clinical evidence for treatment of asthma with acupuncture and moxibustion.METHODS 87 children with asthma (cold-asthma) who meet the inclusion criteria were selected and randomly divided into 2 groups.The control group was treated with conventional western medicine,and the observation group was treated with moxibustion on bilateral Feihu Points(BL13) on the basis of routine western medicine.CRP,IgE,IL1,IL6,EOS,pulmonary function and symptom score were selected as observation indexes for the clinical effects comparison of patients in two groups.RESULTS Indexes levels such as CRP,IgE,IL6 and EOS in the observation group were significantly lower than that in the control group after treatment (P<0.05~0.01).FEV1 and PEF levels of patients in the observation group were significantly better than that in the control group after treatment (P<0.05).Symptom score in the observation group was significantly lower than that in the control group after treatment (P<0.05).Apparent rate (73.81%) of patients in the observation group was significantly higher than that in the control group (53.33%) (P<0.05).CONCLUSION Moxibustion on acupoint Feishu in the treatment of acute asthma in children (cold-asthma) can markedly decrease the levels of CRP,IgE,IL6 and EOS in patients,improve pulmonary function,and can achieve remarkable clinical curative effect.

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

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

OBJECTIVETo study the changes of insulin sensitivity in individuals with impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes and the relationship between insulin sensitivity and over weight/obesity (OW/OB) .

METHODSFifty-two individuals were divided into 4 groups according to WHO diagnostic criteria of obesity (1998) and diabetes (1999): normal weight with normal glucose tolerance (NW-NGT) group, OW/OB with normal glucose tolerance (OW/OB-NGT) group, OW/OB with impaired glucose tolerance (OW/OBIGT) group and OW/OB with diabetes mellitus (OW/OB-DM) group. Individuals in OW/OB-NGT group were further classified into 3 subgroups: over weight subgroup, mild obesity subgroup, and mediate obesity subgroup. Abdominal fat area was measured with magnetic resonance imaging. Visceral obesity was defined as intra-abdominal fat area over 100 cm(2). All subjects with NGT were divided into visceral obesity (VA) group and non-visceral obesity ( Non-VA) group. Extended hyperinsulinemic euglycemic clamp was performed to assess the peripheral tissue insulin sensitivity in all subjects.

RESULTSThe rates of insulin mediated glucose disappearance (Rd) were (3. 25+/-0. 13) mg x kg (-1) min (-1) in OW/OB-NGT group, (3. 06+/-0. 26) mg x kg(-1) x min(-1) in OW/OB-IGT group, and (3.19+/-0.44) mg x kg(-1) x min (-1) in OW/OB-DM group, which were significantly lower than that in NW-NGT group [ (5. 86+/-0. 65) mg x kg (-1) min (-1) ] (P < 0. 05, P < 0.01). The Rd in over weight subgroup [(3.50+/-0. 19) mg kg(-1) x min(-1) ] , mild obesity subgroup [(3. 03+/-0. 13) mg x kg (-1) min(-1)] , and mediate obesity subgroup [(2. 75 +/-0. 24) mg x kg (-1) min(-1)] were significantly lower than that of NW-NGT group (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). The Rd [ (2. 97+/-0. 12) mg kg(-1) x min(-1) vs (4.55+/-0.43) mg x kg(-1) x min(-1)] and glucose oxidation [(1.47 +/-0. 19) mg x kg(-1) min(-1) vs (2.24 +/-0. 19) mg kg(-1) x min(-1) in VA group were significantly decreased than that in non-VA group (P < 0. 05, P < 0. 01). Body mass index, waist and hip ratio, waist circumference, and intra-abdominal fat area were negatively correlated with Rd, respectively (P < 0. 01). Multiple regression analysis showed that body mass index, intra-abdominal fat area and abdominal subcutaneous fat area were the main risk factors of insulin sensitivity.

CONCLUSIONSInsulin sensitivity decreased in OW/OB individuals with or without hyperglycemia. Insulin sensitivity is lower in subjects with visceral obesity. Total body fat and abdominal fat are the main risk factors of insulin sensitivity.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Body Mass Index ; Female ; Glucose Clamp Technique ; methods ; Glucose Intolerance ; etiology ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Intra-Abdominal Fat ; metabolism ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; complications ; physiopathology ; Subcutaneous Fat, Abdominal ; metabolism