0.05.Food appetite and physical status were improved in most of the patients after the treatment of peritoneal dialysis. The serum albumin level after peritoneal dialysis was significant higher as compared with the pre-dialysis state,(37.1?4.4)g/L vs (33.7?5.4) g/L,P

Objective To study the correlation between single point pulse wave velocity (PWVβ)of different peripheral arteries and coronary artery stenosis quantity obtained by coronary arteriongraphy so as to explore the diagnostic value of PWVβin coronary heart disease.Methods We made a retrospective analysis of 183 patients receiving coronary arteriongraphy in our hospital from October 2013 to May 2014.Based on stenosis quantity of coronary artery,the patients were divided into one-vessel lesion group,double-vessel lesion group,multi-vessel lesion group,and nonstenosis as control group.Clinical data of all the patients were collected before coronary arteriongraphy.Different peripheral artery PWVβwas measured with vascular echo tracking (ET)technology for statistical analysis.Results As the lesion vessel number increased,PWVβandβvalues in three peripheral arteries presented a rising tendency.Correlation analysis indicated that PWVβvalues in the three peripheral arteries showed a positive correlation with coronary artery involvement degree.The correlation between PWVβvalue of the common carotid artery and coronary artery involvement degree was most obvious,followed by the femoral artery and the popliteal artery.The sensitivity,specificity,positive predictive value,negative predictive value and Youden index of the common carotid artery PWVβvalue to diagnose coronary heart disease were 91.2%,84.5%,92.7%,81.7 and 0.76,respectively.Non-conditional multi-factor Logistic regression analysis was implemented by choosing age, sex,smoking history,hypertension history,diabetes history,hyperlipemia,BMI,HDL-C,LDL-C,TC,TG,GLU,SBP,DBP,UA,Cr,and PWVβ value as independent variables,and the degree of coronary artery disease as dependent variable.The results revealed that age,hypertension history,diabetes history,and PWVβ value were independent risk factors for coronary heart disease.Conclusion PWVβ value can be regarded as one index for observing artherosclerosis lesion degree and predicting early lesion.PWVβvalue of the common carotid artery can be an important index for dynamically observing the occurrence and development of artherosclerosis.

ay be useful for preventing or treating early inflammation in the arteria of diabetic rats.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of cardiotrophin-1 (CT-1) on the GATA4 expression and related signaling pathways (JAK-STAT3, ERK1/2 and PI3-K) in rat cardiomyocytes.

METHODSUsing semi-quantitative RT-PCR and EMSA, we measured the dose and time dependent effects of CT-1 on GATA4 mRNA and binding activity in cultured rat cardiomyocytes. Parthenolide (a STAT inhibitor), U-0126 (an ERK inhibitor) and LY-294002 (a PI3-K inhibitor) alone or in combination were added to the culture medium to assess the role of above signaling pathways in CT-1 mediated effects.

RESULTSGATA4 mRNA expression significantly increased at 3 h post 0.1 nmol/L CT-1 exposure, peaked at 6 h and remained high till 24 h post exposure. The GATA4 binding activity began to increase at 10 min and peaked at 60 min and returned to baseline level 180 min. Six hours post CT-1 (0.01 nmol/L, 0.1 nmol/L, 1 nmol/L) exposure, the GATA4 mRNA expression increased in a dose-dependent manner. The GATA4 binding activity peaked with 0.1 nmol/L CT-1 and higher dose did not further increase the binding activity. U-0126 increased the GATA4 mRNA expression and enhanced the GATA4 binding activity and these effects could be partially attenuated with addition of Parthenolide. Parthenolide also prevented the increase of GATA4 mRNA and binding activity induced by CT-1. LY-294002 had no effects GATA4 mRNA and binding activity.

CONCLUSIONCT-1 increases the GATA4 mRNA expression and binding activity in rat cardiomyocytes via STAT3/ERK1/2 pathways and these effects are independent of PI3-K pathway.

Animals ; Cell Line ; Cytokines ; pharmacology ; GATA4 Transcription Factor ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; metabolism ; RNA, Messenger ; biosynthesis ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; pharmacology ; Signal Transduction

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Ganfukang (GFK) on connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and focal adhesion kinase (FAK)/protein kinase B (PKB or Akt) signal pathway in a hepatic fibrosis rat model and to explore the underlying therapeutic molecular mechanisms of GFK.

METHODSFifty SD rats were randomly divided into five groups as follows: the control group, the model group (repeated subcutaneous injection of CCl4), and the three GFK treatment groups (31.25, 312.5, and 3125 mg/kg, intragastric administration). Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry were used to examine the expression of CTGF, integrin α5, integrin β1, FAK/Akt signal pathway, cyclinD1, and collagen in the different-treated rats.

RESULTSGFK attenuated the up-regulation of CTGF, integrin α5, and integrin β1 in hepatic fibrosis rats and suppressed both the phosphorylation of FAK and the phosphorylation of Akt simultaneously (P<0.01). At the same time, the expression of cyclinD1, collagen I, and collagen III was decreased by GFK significantly (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONSCTGF and FAK/Akt signal pathway were activated in the CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis rats, which contribute to increased expression of cyclinD1 and collagen genes. The mechanisms of the anti-fibrosis activity of GFK may be due to its effects against CTGF and FAk/Akt signal pathway.

Animals ; Collagen ; genetics ; metabolism ; Connective Tissue Growth Factor ; genetics ; metabolism ; Cyclin D1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Female ; Focal Adhesion Protein-Tyrosine Kinases ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; drug effects ; Integrin alpha5 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Integrin beta1 ; genetics ; metabolism ; Liver ; drug effects ; enzymology ; pathology ; Liver Cirrhosis ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; genetics ; pathology ; Male ; Phosphorylation ; drug effects ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; metabolism ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo compare the acute hemodynamic effects and safety of intravenous injection of recombinant human brain natriuretic peptide (rhBNP) versus intravenous nitroglycerin (NIT) in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients with heart failure.

METHODSOn top of standard therapy, 42 consecutive patients who suffered from anterior wall AMI with heart failure [pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) > 16 mm Hg] within 12 to 24 hours from the onset of chest pain were randomized into rhBNP group (n = 21, 1.5 microg/kg bolus intravenous injection followed by 0.0075 microg.kg(-1).mn(-1) for the first 3 hours and 0.015-0.03 microg.kg(-1).mn(-1) infusion for following 21 hours) and NIT group (n = 21, 10 to 100 microg/mn intravenous infusion for 24 hours). The hemodynamic parameters were monitored by Swan-Ganz catheter at baseline, during drug infusion and 6 hours post infusion withdraw; total urine output was also obtained. The major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were observed up to 1 week after drug infusions.

RESULTSCentral venous pressure and systolic blood pressure remained unchanged after rhBNP or NIT infusion. Compared to baseline level, PCWP was significantly reduced by 48.9% (P < 0.01) at 30 minutes after rhBNP infusion and this effect remained up to 6 hours post infusion withdraw; PCWP reduced by 28.7% (P < 0.05) at 2 hours after NIT infusion and this effect remained to 6 hours before infusion withdraw. Cardiac index (CI) was increased by 27.1% (P < 0.05) at 1 hour after rhBNP infusion and remained till 6 hours post infusion withdraw; CI was significantly increased at 3 hour after NIT infusion and this effect disappeared after infusion withdraw. The PCWP and CI values were significantly higher in rhBNP group than that of NIT group at 30 minutes and 2 hours (P < 0.05). Heart rate was significantly reduced at 30 minutes (95.3 +/- 7.4 vs. 118.0 +/- 8.2 bpm, P < 0.05) and at 2 hour (92.8 +/- 6.8 vs. 109.2 +/- 7.6 bpm, P < 0.05) in rhBNP and NIT group, respectively and heart rate remained reduced during the whole infusion period in both groups. The total urine output for 30 hours in rhBNP group (1870 +/- 535 ml) tended to be higher than that in NIT group (1538 +/- 620 ml, P > 0.05). There was no symptomatic hypotension or other adverse events during drug infusion in both groups and MACE up to 1 week post drug infusion was also similar between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONIntravenous injection of rhBNP results in more rapid and long-lasting hemodynamic improvements than that of NIT in AMI patients with heart failure and it is also feasible and safe for clinic use in AMI patients with heart failure.

Aged ; Female ; Heart Failure ; complications ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Hemodynamics ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction ; complications ; drug therapy ; physiopathology ; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain ; therapeutic use ; Recombinant Proteins ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo investigate levels of antibodies against type A and type C influenza viruses and those against the 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus (before and after the 2009 H1N1 pandemic) among residents in Wuxi. To compare levels of antibodies against the 2009 H1N1 influenza virus (one year after the pandemic) in the unvaccinated population with those in the population who received vaccine.

METHODSSerum samples were collected from subjects (aged 1-60 years) during September 2008 to May 2009, and during September 2010 to January 2011. Also collected were serum samples from adults who had received vaccines for pandemic (H1N1) 2009 for one year. Antibody response to influenza viruses was measured using hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay. Seropositivity rate, seroprotection rate and geometric mean titer (GMT) were compared for each age group during different periods.

RESULTSBefore the outbreak of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, seropositivity rate, seroprotection rate and GMT among the study subjects in were 2.86% (4/140), 0.71% (1/140) and 5.23, respectively. One year after the outbreak, seropositivity rate, seroprotection rate and GMT among the study subjects were 66.33%, 37.76% and 19.17, respectively. Among them, adult subjects showed 50.00% seropositivity rate, 19.44% seroprotection rate and 13.09 GMT, while adult subjects who had received vaccine for one year showed 61.36% seropositivity rate, 22.73% seroprotection rate and 14.14 GMT. No significant difference was observed between these two populations (P > 0.05 for all three indexes). Furthermore, before the outbreak of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic, levels of antibodies against seasonal influenza viruses among the study subjects were as follows: for H1N1 virus, seropositivity rate, seroprotection rate and GMT were 55.00%, 35.00% and 16.90, respectively; for H3N2 virus, seropositivity rate, seroprotection rate and GMT were 86.40%, 84.30% and 58.56, respectively.

CONCLUSIONOne year after the 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus had spread to Wuxi, the population levels of antibodies against this virus have approached those against seasonal influenza viruses, as reflected by seropositivity rates, seroproection rates and GMT. Moreover, considerable levels of antibodies against seasonal influenza viruses were observed in populations, indicating no seasonal influenza outbreak would occur recently.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Antibodies, Viral ; blood ; immunology ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; Female ; Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests ; Humans ; Infant ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype ; immunology ; Influenza Vaccines ; immunology ; Influenza, Human ; blood ; immunology ; prevention & control ; virology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Young Adult

As a traditional animal drug, Hirudo is slightly toxic and has the effects of breaking blood stasis, dredging meridians, expelling stasis, and resolving mass. It has a long history of processing, and the early boiling records can be traced back to the Han Dynasty. More than ten processing methods such as frying, roasting, and lime processing appeared later. After processing, Hirudo is deodorized and modified in taste and becomes crispy, which is conducive to crushing and clinical application. At present, the reported components in Hirudo mainly include protein polypeptides, pteridines, and lipids, which have anti-coagulant, anti-thrombotic, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-tumor, and other pharmacological effects. This study reviewed the processing history evolution, chemical consti-tuents, and pharmacological effects of Hirudo to provide a reference for the related research on Hirudo.
Animals ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology* ; Evolution, Chemical ; Leeches ; Thrombosis ; Restraint, Physical

BACKGROUNDDihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD), a key enzyme involved in the catabolism of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), is the attractive candidate for pharmacogenetic research on efficacies and toxicities of 5-FU. The aim of this study is to explore the association between polymorphisms of dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase gene (DPYD) and clinical outcomes of gastric cancer patients treated with fluorouracil-based adjuvant chemotherapy in the Chinese population.

METHODSThree hundred and sixty-two patients with gastric cancer in the Chinese population were treated with fluorouracil-based adjuvant chemotherapy. The single nucleotide polymorphic genotypes of DPYD were determined by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) using DNA samples isolated from peripheral blood collected before treatment.

RESULTSThe average response rate for chemotherapy was 46.7%. A significantly different distribution of the rs1801159 (c2=8.76, P=0.012) genotypes was observed. Homozygous genotype rs1801159A/A was over-represented in responsive patients. Conversely, carriers of the rs1801159A/G genotype were prevalent in non-responsive patients. In the haplotype association analysis, there was significant difference in global haplotype distribution between the groups (c2=3.96, P=0.0465).

CONCLUSIONSThese results suggest that polymorphisms of rs1801159 in DPYD may be used as valuable predictors of the response to fluorouracil-based chemotherapy for gastric cancer patients in the Chinese population. Well-designed, comprehensive, and prospective studies on determining these polymorphisms of DPYD as predictive markers for gastric cancer in response to fluorouracil-based therapies are warranted.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant ; methods ; Dihydrouracil Dehydrogenase (NADP) ; genetics ; Female ; Fluorouracil ; therapeutic use ; Genotype ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; genetics ; Stomach Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; genetics ; Treatment Outcome ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the factors associated with the occurrence of transplant renal artery stenosis (TRAS).

METHODSA retrospective analysis was conducted in 26 recipients who developed TRAS and 40 concurrent renal recipients without TRAS. We also conducted a nested case-control study in 14 patients with TRAS (TRAS-SD group) and another 14 non-TRAS recipients who received the allograft from the same donor (non-TRAS-SD group).

RESULTSCompared with those in the concurrent recipients without TRAS, acute rejection (AR) occurred at a significantly higher incidence (P=0.004) and the warm ischemia time (WIT) was significantly longer (P=0.015) and the level of high?density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL--C) significantly lower (P=0.009) in the recipients with TRAS. Logistic regression analysis suggested that AR (P=0.007) and prolonged WIT (P=0.046) were risk factors of TRAS while HDL-C (P=0.022) was the protective factor against TRAS. In recent years early diagnosis of TRAS had been made in increasing cases, the interval from transplantation to TRAS diagnosis became shortened steadily, and the recipients tended to have higher estimated glomerular filtration rate at the time of TRAS diagnosis.

CONCLUSIONApart from the surgical technique, AR and prolonged WIT are also risk factors of TRAS while a high HDL-C level is the protective factor against TRAS. The improvement of the diagnostic accuracy by ultrasound is the primary factor contributing to the increased rate of early TRAS diagnosis in recent years.