Objective To investigate the correlation between plasma N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and haemodynamics evaluated by right-heart catheterization in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH).Methods Fifty-three patients with CTEPH were retrospectively reviewed.All patients underwent right-heart catheterization to detect haemodynamics.The level of plasma NT-proBNP was measured by electrochemical luminescence.The indexes were analyzed.Results Pulmonary artery systolic pressure was (84.9 ± 21.6) mmHg (1 mmHg =0.133 kPa).Pulmonary artery diastolic pressure was (31.1 ± 9.7) mmHg.Pulmonary artery pressure was (49.3 ± 13.4) mmHg.Pulmonary vascular resistance was (1 047.4 ± 86.1) dyn ·s/cm5.Pulmonary capillary wedge pressure was (8.16 ± 3.02) mmHg.Right cardiac output was (3.36 ± 1.42) ml.Right cardiac work was (1.97 ± 0.95) kg·m.The level of plasma NT-proBNP in CTEPH was (2 301.5 ± 1 787.3) ng/L.The level of plasma NT-proBNP in CTEPH had positive correlation with pulmonary vascular resistance (r =0.429,P =0.02),and had negative correlation with right cardiac output (r =-0.583,P＜ 0.01) and right cardiac work (r =-0.521,P ＜ 0.01).The level of plasma NT-proBNP in CTEPH had no correlation with pulmonary artery systolic pressure,pulmonary artery diastolic pressure,pulmonary artery pressure,pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (P ＞ 0.05).Conclusion The level of plasma NT-proBNP can be used as a better predictor for evaluating pulmonary vascular resistance and right cardiac function in CTEPH.

OBJECTIVE:To determine serum concentrations of western medicines in patients treated with "traditional Chinese antiepileptic medicine" alone and to evaluate the curative effects.METHODS:A total of 60 epileptic patients who visited our hospital between Feb.1997 and June 2006 were subjected to plasma drug level monitoring and during which the patients were treated with "traditional Chinese antiepileptic drugs" alone.Plasma concentrations of 4 kinds of western medicin-es were determined by FPIA.RESULTS:Of the 60 cases,valproic acid,carbamazepine,phenytoin and phenobarbitone were detected in 18,40,41,and 47 cases/times,respectively.On average,more than two kinds of western medicines were detected in every patient,and the blood concentrations were mostly beyond effective plasma drug concentration.The total curative effects were unsatisfactory.CONCLUSION:The fact that western medicine ingredients detected in these traditional Chinese antiepileptic medicines is inconformity with medication principle of epilepsy.Traditional Chinese antiepileptic medicines should be used with caution in the clinic in the treatment of epileptic patients.

Objective To analyze the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of epidemic encephalitis B in Yuneheng area of Shanxi Province in 2006.Methods Seventy-nine cases diagnosed with epidemic encephalitis B were enrolled in this study and correlated data,epidemic and clinical characteristics,laboratory examinations and treatment outcome were analyzed.Results Sixty-two of 79 patients(78.5%)were middle-aged or old people,all cases(100%)occurred in July,August and September,69 cases(87.3%)were peasants.All patients(100%)had fever,73(92.4%)had conscious disturbance,27(34.2%)had respiratory failure.Encephalitis B specific IgM antibody was examined and 40 cases(85.1%)were positive.Twenty cases(25.3%)had complications.When they were discharged,37 cases(46.8%)recovered completely,14 cases(17.7%)died,12 were improved and 16 were voluntarily discharged,7 cases(8.9%)left more or less neurological deficits. Conclusion The epidemiology and clinical characteristics are important basis to diagnose epidemic encephalitis B.

Cancer, also known as malignant tumor, is the second largest disease after heart disease, which is characterized by genomic instability and mutagenicity. Ataxia telangiectasia and RAD3-related kinase (ATR) are members of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PIKK) family, belonging to serine/threonine kinase, one of the key kinases in DNA damage response (DDR) and DNA repair pathway. This paper reviews the latest progress in the ATR inhibitor field including mechanism of action (MOA), therapeutic applications, and the combination therapy from the perspective of medicinal chemistry. It also discusses the possible challenges and future directions of developing ATR inhibitor antitumor drugs, which could provide the scientists in this field the convenience for access the information and application guidance for clinical studies.

Background Glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β)plays an important role in glucose metabolism,and it may be affect the occurrence of diabetic retinopathy(DR).ObjectiveThe present study was to investigate the effect of valsartan and fluvastatin on the expression of GSK-3β in retina of diabetes rat model.MethodsDiabetes mellitus models were induced by intrapenetoneal injection of streptozotocin(STZ) in 47 clean Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats and were then randomedly divided into 4 groups.Ten other normal rats were served as normal control group.Sodium carboxy methyl cellulose solution,valsartan,fluvastatin,valsartan+fluvastatin and sodium carboxy methyl cellulose solution was given by oral once per day for 12 weeks respectively in diabetes control group ( n =12),valsartan group ( n =12 ),fluvastatin group ( n =11 ),valsartau + fluvastatin group ( n =12 ) and normal control group.Twelve weeks after administration of drugs,blood glucose was measured and compared among various groups,and the expression of p-GSK-3β ( Ser-9 ) protein in retina was quantified and located by Western blot and immunohistochemistry,respectively.Results Twelve weeks after use of drugs,the level of blood glucose was(5.28±0.30),(26.08±3.33 ),(26.03 ±2.66 ),(25.90± 2.86 ),(25.99 ± 2.14 ) mmol/L in the normal control group,diabetes control group,valsartan,fluvastatin,valsartan + fluvastatin group,respectively,showing a significant difference among the 5 groups ( F =110.74,P＜0.01 ).Western blot showed that the grey value of p-GSK-3β ( Ser-9 ) /β-actin in retina in the diabetic control group was significant higher than the normal group(2.774±0.139 vs 1.927±0.111,q =15.79,P＜0.01 ),and that in valsartan,fluvastatin,valsartan+fluvastatin group was lower than the diabetic control group ( 1.895 ±0.090,2.051 ± 0.113,1.537 ± 0.071 vs 2.774 ± 0.139 ) ( q =1 3.69,13.48,23.06,P ＜ 0.01 ).The grey value of p-GSK-3β (Ser-9)/β-actin in the valsartan+fluvastatin group was declined in comparison with the valsartan group and fluvastatin group ( q =6.67,9.58,P＜0.01 ).Immunohistochemistry showed that the p-GSK-3β(Ser-9) protein was expressed all over the retinal layers and obviously in retinal ganglion cell layer(GCL) in normal control group.But the p-GSK-3β(Ser-9) protein was expressed significantly in diabetic control group.The expression of p-GSK-3β (Ser-9)protein was attenuated both in valsartan and fluvastatin groups and further attenuated in valsartan + fluvastatin group. Conclusions p-GSK-3β (Ser-9) protein is overexpressed in GCL of retina of diabetes rat.Both valsartan and fluvastatin can inhibit the expression of p-GSK-3β (Ser-9) and even getting stronger when they combined.

Objective To discuss the histology change,apoptosis state and Bcl-2,Bax expression after the bone cement leakage into the intervertebral disc in vertebroplasty.Methods Eight majority canis familiaris were studied.Three lumbar intervertebral discs(L2 to L5)in each dog were randomly classified into three groups(control group,PMMA group,and CPC group),the canine discs were stabbed by 18-gauge needle,and 0.1 ml cement was injected into them.Control discs were only stabbed and injected with nothing.Histology of all discs was studied 24 weeks after the operation.Terminal-deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated nick end labeling(TUNEL)and immunohistochemisty were used to detect apoptosis and Bcl-2,Bax expression in the discs.The data were statistically analyzed by SPSS 12.0.Results Intervertebral disc degeneration was not found in control groups.In bone cement groups,however,ruptured or serpentine patterned fibers,decreased cellularity of the nucleus pulposus and condensed matrix of the nucleus pulposus were found in histologic results.The Bax protein decreased in the order of control group, CPC group,and PMMA group.However,the Bcl-2 protein increased in the order of control group,CPC group,and PMMA group.The histology grade was significantly different among the three groups under ANOVA analysis(P

n of IL-6 and TNF-alpha,alleviate the inflammation of ANP.

OBJECTIVETo compare the effect of citric acid stimulation on salivary alpha-amylase (sAA), total protein (TP), salivary flow rate, and pH value between Pi deficiency (PD) children and healthy children, thereby providing evidence for Pi controlling saliva theory.

METHODSTwenty PD children were recruited, and 29 healthy children were also recruited at the same time. Saliva samples from all subjects were collected before and after citric acid stimulation. The sAA activity and amount, TP contents, salivary flow rate, and pH value were determined and compared.

RESULTS(1) Citric acid stimulation was able to significantly increase salivary flow rate, pH value, sAA activities, sAA specific activity and sAA amount (including glycosylated and non-glycosylated sAA amount) in healthy children (P<0.05), while it could markedly increase salivary flow rate, pH value, and glycosylated sAA levels in PD children (P<0.05); (2) Although there was no statistical difference in determined salivary indices between the two groups (P>0.05), salivary indices except salivary flow rate and glycosylated sAA levels decreased more in PD children. There was statistical difference in sAA activity ratio, sAA specific activity ratio, and the ratio of glycosylated sAA levels between PD children and healthy children (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONPD children had decreased response to citric acid stimulation.

SW872 cells were cultured in vitro with oleic acid and differentiated into mature adipocytes. The role of interleukin-6(IL-6)in the secretion of acylation-stimulating protein(ASP)in mature SW872 adipocytes was observed.The results suggested that IL-6 significantly inhibited ASP secretion into the media in a dose-and time-dependent manner in mature SW872 adipocytes.

Objective The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of preoperative Computed Tomography (CT)-guided microcoil localization for pulmonary ground-glass opacity.Methods We performed CT-guided Microcoil localization in 30 patients with 32 pure ground glass opacities between December 2012 and September 2013.All 30 patients underwent CT-guided micmcoil localization under local anesthesia with a 21G needle percutaneous lung biopsy.All patients accepted video-assisted thoracic surgery after the localization the same day or the next day.Results We located 32 pure ground glass opacitiesin 30 patients.The mean lesion diameter was 0.94 cm,the average depth from the visceral pleura was 0.71 cm,all leisons were successfully located by microcoil,asymptomatic pneumothorax was observed in seven patients,pulmonary hematoma was observed in two patients,pain was observed in one patient,dislodgement was found in one patient during the operation.None of these cases needed surgical treatment.Pathologic diagnoses of the target leisions were as follows:adenocarcinoma in situ (n =17),adenocarcinoma(n =9),atypical hyperplasia(n =4),inflammation (n =2).After the placement of preoperative CT-guided microcoil localization for pulmonary ground-glass opacity,all the 32 pulmonary pure ground-glass opacities resection success rate was 100％.Conclusion Preoperative CT-guided microcoil localization for pulmonary pure ground-glass opacity is a safe and effective way to improve the accuracy of surgical resection.