AIM: To investigate the effects and mechanisms of atorvastatin on myocardial fibrosis induced by aldosterone in SD rats. METHODS: Forty male uninephrectomized SD rats were limited to drink 1% NaCl water for 4 weeks and assigned to the follow groups: vehicle control rats (CON group);aldosterone treated rats (ALD group);spironolactone + aldosterone treated rats(SPI+ALD group);atorvastatin + aldosterone treated rats (ATO+ALD group). Blood pressure was measured by catheterization. Expression of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-A, PDGF-B), platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR-α, PDGFR-β) and ectodermal dysplasia-1 (ED-1) were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Collagen volume fraction (CVF) and perivascular collagen area (PVCA) were analyzed by Sirius-Red staining. Myocardium osteopontin protein was detected by Western blotting analysis. RESULTS: Mean arterial blood pressure in ALD group, SPI+ALD group and ATO+ALD group was elevated, and significant difference was observed between the three groups and vehicle control group (P<0.01 or P<0.05). Myocardial fibrosis was observed in ALD group. Compared to other three groups, the index of CVF and PVCA was increased significantly (P<0.01 or P<0.05). No significant difference of the index of CVF and PVCA between ATO+ALD group and SPI+ALD group was observed (P>0.05). Compared to other groups, the levels of PDGF-A, PDGF-B, PDGFR-α, ED-1 and OPN in ALD group were significantly increased (P<0.01 or P<0.05). The levels of PDGF-A, PDGF-B, PDGFR-α and OPN were no significant difference between ATO+ALD group and SPI+ALD group (P<0.01 or P<0.05). However, the level of ED-1 in ATO+ALD group was significantly decreased compared to SPI+ALD group (P<0.05). No significant difference of PDGFR-β level among four groups was found (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that atorvastatin may attenuate myocardial fibrosis induced by aldosterone. The mechanisms concern with reduction of macrophage infiltration, expression of inflammatory cytokines OPN, partially inhibition of platelet-derived growth factor and its receptor expression.

0.05).MMP-9 reached the peak at 1 month after PCI in DM group,and had significant difference compared with the concentration before or 24h after PCI in DM group 34.74?10.70 ?g/L vs 19.64?6.03 ?g/L,20.00?7.06 ?g/L(P

Objective To investigate the effect of persistent ST-segment elevation after successful direct percutanous coronary intervention (PCI) on the late phase of left ventricular (LV) systolic function in acute anterior wall myocardial infarction.Methods Serial electrocardiograms were record before PCI and 1 hour after reperfusion in 72 patients with acute anterior wall myocardial infarction. The reduction of ST-segment elevation after successful PCI more than 50% was defined as ST-segment resolution (ST reduction group). Persistent ST-segment elevation was defined as ≥50% of peak ST elevation (ST elevation group). Echocardiography was performed on 2 to 3 weeks (early phase) and 5 to 6 months(late phase)after PCI to evaluate the LV function and ventricular wall motion abnormality (VWMA). Results Fifty-three patients (74%) had early ST segment elevation resolution and 19 patients (26%) did not. The LV function and VWMA were similar in two groups during early phase. But during the late phase, ST elevation group patients had lower LVEF and higher LVEDVI, LVESVI, VWMA index compared with ST reduction group (P

Objective To study the relationship between histological activity index and serum of tumor nec-rosis factor-α( TNF-α) ,peripheral blood T cell subsets in patients with chronic hepatitis B.Methods Histopatholog-ical examinations were performed in 237 patients with chronic hepatitis B and 12 controls.The histological activity index( HAI) were analyzed by knodels method.These patients were divided into the four groups according to histologi-cal activity index classification:the control group(n=12),mild group(n=67),moderate group(n=89),and severe group(n=81).The serum levels of TNF-αwere determined by ELISA,and peripheral blood T cell subsets were ana-lyzed by flow cytometry.Results The serum level of TNF-αin the mild group[(29.65 ±10.15)μg/L],moderate group[(38.96 ±7.32)μg/L]and severe group[(47.73 ±6.99)μg/L]were higher than those in the control group [(13.78 ±6.40)μg/L](q=14.38,19.97,24.83,all P<0.05),significant positive correlation lied between the histological activity index classification and the serum level of TNF-α(r=0.708,P<0.05).The rate of CD8+cells in the moderate group[(27.66 ±6.63)μg/L]and the severe group[(28.98 ±5.92)μg/L]were higher than those in the control group[(22.32 ±1.84)μg/L](q=3.84,4.76,all P<0.05),and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+in the moderate group(1.32 ±0.37) and the severe group(1.19 ±0.30) were lower than those in the control group(1.67 ±0.14) (q=4.20,5.72,all P<0.05),but the rate of CD8+cells and the ratio of CD4+/CD8+showed no significance among the mild group,moderate group and severe group.Conclusion TNF-αand disorder of cellular immunity may play an important role in the development and progression of intrahepatic vascular lesion.

BACKGROUND:Poly lactic acid as an excellent delivery has good biocompatibility.
OBJECTIVE:To prepare recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2)/poly lactic acid (PLA) sustained release microspheres, and to study its physical and chemical properties.
METHODS:The rhBMP-2/PLA sustained release microspheres were prepared using w/o/w solvent evaporation method. Scanning electron microscopy, laser particle size, zeta potential, and swel ing properties were detected. ELISA kit was utilized for measurement of encapsulation efficiency, drug-loading rate and in vitro drug release rate.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:Under the scanning electron microscope, rhBMP-2/PLA sustained release microspheres were approximately circle with excellent dispersion. The uniform spheres were visible with a mean particle size of 839.6 nm. The zeta potential were (-32.93±3.74) mV. The swel ing coefficient was 1.157±0.059. The drug-loading rate and encapsulation efficiency of rhBMP-2/PLA sustained release microspheres were (88.943±2.878)%and (0.026±0.001)%respectively. The drug release rate at 1 day was about 10.199%, then the drug release was relatively constant, and til 19 days, the cumulative drug release rate was 54.643%. These findings indicate that the constructed rhBMP-2/PLA sustained release microspheres meet the requirement of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia (10th edition) that the encapsulation efficiency is not less than 80%and the microspheres have a good slow-release function in vitro.

BACKGROUND:Silk fibroin, chitosan, and nano hydroxyapatite are natural materials, and they al have good biological activity and physical or chemical properties. As tissue engineering materials, they have been already widely used in clinic or research work, but there are some defects in the application of these three kinds of materials. OBJECTIVE:To discuss the preparation and characteristics of silk fibroin/chitosan/nano hydroxyapatite complicated scaffolds which could be used in bone tissue engineering. METHODS:Silk fibroin, chitosan, and nano hydroxyapatite were separately prepared into 2%solution, and then mixed at the ratio of 1:1:0.5, 1:1:1, 1:1:1.5 respectively. The three-dimensional complicated scaffolds were prepared by those mixed liquids through repeated freeze drying and chemical crosslinking technology. Scanning electron microscope was used to detect the pore size of the scaffolds. Porosity, water absorption rate, and hot-water loss rate were determined. Mechanical tester was used to measure the tensile and compressive modulus of dried three-dimensional scaffolds. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The silk fibroin/chitosan/nano hydroxyapatite complicated scaffold in the dry state had no special smel , appeared to be a stabilized solid cylinder, and exhibited clear resiliency and flexibility with a touch. With the increased content of nano hydroxyapatite, the porosity, water absorption rate and average pore size of the scaffolds appeared to be decreased, while the hot-water loss rate and compressive strength were increased. The scaffold prepared at 1:1:1 was better for bone tissue engineering, and the average pore size, water absorption rate and hot-water loss rate were 85.67 μm, (135.65±4.56)%and (22.84±1.06)%, respectively, closer to the needs of the bone tissue engineering. Uniform pores were found within the scaffold at 1:1:1, showing the network structure, developed transport among pores, and the network structure was approximately 10μm.

Objective: To observe the efifcacy and safety of bivalirudin on primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).
Methods: A total of 159 patients with acute STEMI treated by emergent PCI in our hospital from 2011-09 to 2014-01 were retrospectively studied. The patients were divided into 2 groups according to procedural bivalirudin application as Bivalirudin group and Heparin group, and the application of GPI (glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor) was decided by the operator. The baseline condition, coronary artery imaging condition, peri-operative and 30-day post-operative bleeding, the occurrence rate of MACE were compared between 2 groups.
Results: There were 153 patients completed the follow-up study including 72 in Bivalirudin group and 81 in Heparin group. The peri-operative bleeding rates in Bivalirudin group and Heparin group were 6.5% vs 11.0%, the in-stent thrombosis rates were 0% vs 1.2%, 30-day post-operative bleeding rates were 9.7% vs 13.5% and the occurrence of MACE were 1.4% vs 7.4% allP>0.05.
Conclusion: THE application of bivalirudin in emergent PCI is safe and effective in patients with acute STEMI, it has certain trend to reduce bleeding in relevant patients.

Objective To explore risk factors for asthma children in Urumqi aged 0-14 years old through the epidemiological survey data.Methods By cluster sampling method,totally 11 939 children were investigated.There were 148 cases of asthma,by using case-control study,the risk factors for asthma were analyzed.Results The total asthma morbidity rate of childhood asthma (aged 0-14 years old) in Urumqi(1.24％,148/11 939 cases) was significantly lower than that of national city incidence (3.02％) based on the third-time national survey;the prevalence rate was obviously rising compared with the region in 2000 (0.61％) and 1990 (0.40％).The prevalence of asthma in male and female children was 1.72％ (104/6 047 cases) and 0.75％ (44/5 892 cases),respectively (x2 =23.081,P ＜0.001).Preschool children had the highest prevalence of asthma (1.33％,36/2 705 cases),which was slightly higher than that of school-age children (1.29％,86/6 690 cases) and that of the infants (1.02％,26/2 544 cases).The prevalence in Han children (1.36％,121/8 895 cases) was higher than that of the minority children (0.89％,27/3 044 cases)(x2 =4.150,P ＜ 0.05).The uni-variate Logistic regression analysis showed that there were 16 significant factors that related to asthma;bv multivariate Logistic regression analysis,the family history of allergies,allergic rhinitis,food allergy history,use of antibiotics and passive smoking were all risk factors associated with childhood asthma.Conclusions The asthma prevalence is significantly different in genders,ages,Han nationality and minority.Active avoidance of risk factors for asthma in children are of great significance in the prevention and control of children asthma.

Aim To investigate the cardioprotective effects and the possible mechanism of trimetazidine in the risky areas during late reperfusion after acute myocardial infarction in canine.Methods Twenty-four adult dogs were randomized into three groups:sham operation group(n=8),late reperfusion group(LR,n=8),late reperfusion after trimetazidine treatment group(LR+TMZ,n=8).Physiological saline was orally given in the sham operation group and LR group and trimetazidine(2 mg?kg-1?d-1) in the LR+TMZ group for fourteen days.After that later,all chests were opened and coronary areteries were exposed.Exceptly shame operation group,the late reperfusion of acute myocardial infarction model was made by ligating the coronary for 10 h,followed by reperfusion of 10 h.Apoptotic index were detected by TUNEL.The Bcl-2,Bax,Cytochrome C and apoptosis-inducing factor(AIF) proteins were detected by immunohistochemistry.Results Compared with those of LR group,myocardial apoptotic index and the expression of Bax,Cytochrome C and AIF proteins in LR+TMZ decreased significantly(all P