Objective To explore the levels of blood N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP) and homocysteine(HCY) and their clinical significance in the patients with essential hypertension(EH) complicating left ventricular hypertrophy(LVH).Methods One hundred and fifty cases of HE were divided into the EH-LVH group and simple EH group according to the results of cardiac ultrasound.One hundred individuals undergoing physical examination were selected as the control group.The levels of blood NT-proBNP and HCY were compared among three groups and the correlation analysis were analyzed with LV was performed.Results The levels of blood NT-proBNP and HCY in the EH-LVH group were obviously higher than those in the EH group and control group,the EH group was significantly higher than the control group,the difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).The levels of blood NT-proBNP and HCY had significantly positive correlation with left ventricular mass index(LVMI),while negative correlation with mitral flow velocity E/A(P<0.05).Conclusion The NT-proBNP and HCY levels can be used as the indicators for monitoring the development and progress of EH and has some predictive value for its complicating LVH.

Nitric oxide (NO), which is involved in the regulation of the cardiovascular system, nervous system, immune system, reproductive system, digestive system and other physiological activities, is an important biological substance with activity. Under normal physiological conditions, neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) can precisely regulate the nervous system NO production, release, diffusion and inactivation processes. But an excess of NO associates with the development of cerebral ischemia, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's psychosis nervous system diseases, while inhibition of nNOS activity can regulate the content of NO in vivo, and produce a therapeutic effect on some of the nervous system diseases. This review mainly describes the structure and regulation of nNOS and recent developments of small molecule inhibitors of nNOS.

Objective: To assess the values of conventional vascular ultrasound (US) and superb micro vascular imaging (SMI) for diagnosing carotid artery stenosis in relevant patients. Methods: A total of 37 patients of extra cranial carotid stenosis (with 70 blood vessels) treated in our hospital from 2014-08 to 2015-03 were retrospectively studied. Digital subtraction angiography (DAS) examination was used as golden standard, the diagnostic efifcacies for carotid artery stenosis by US and by SMI were compared. Results: The accuracy, sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing carotid stenosis by US were 81.42%, 83.33% and 80.95%; by SMI were 91.43%, 92.16% and 89.47% respectively. Conclusion: US and SMI showed good agreement for diagnosing carotid artery stenosis, while SMI was superior to US for accurately assess the degree of carotid stenosis, it might be used as a more reliable method for evaluating carotid plaque and stenosis in relevant patients.

Objective To study the influence of Qingzao Runfei Huazhuo Xingxue decoction on pulmonary tissue and lung function in mouse model of lung injury induced by PM2.5, and to provide an idea of clinical prevention and treatment of respiratory diseases induced by PM2.5. Methods Totally 30 clean level male ICR mice were randomly divided into three groups: normal control group, model group and Qingzao Runfei Huazhuo Xingxue decoction intervention group, with 10 mice in each group. Model of PM2.5-induced respiratory disease in mice was reproduced by instilling nasal cavity drip PM2.5 suspension 40 mg/kg once a day for 6 weeks. In the treatment group, the mice were fed with the Qingzao Runfei Huazhuo Xingxue decoction twice a day from the 4th week of instilling PM2.5 suspension until the end of experiment. In the normal control group, the mice were fed as usual. At the end of the experiment, the total protein content in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and lung wet/dry weight (W/D) ratio was determined. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to observe the histopathological changes in lung tissue under light microscope. The inflammatory mediators levels in lung tissue were determined by antibody-sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results Respiratory system damage model was successfully reproduced by dripping of PM2.5 suspension in nasal cavity. Compared with normal control group, inflammatory changes and inflammatory cell infiltration in model group were significant, and lung W/D ratio (4.71±0.33 vs. 3.13±0.12), total protein content in BALF (mg/L: 363.98±18.24 vs. 82.13±12.78), tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α (ng/L): 185.72±0.23 vs. 31.03±0.16], interleukin-8 [IL-8 (ng/L): 531.85±37.83 vs. 72.64±16.72], and leukotriene B4 [LTB4 (ng/L): 931.74±48.64 vs. 483.81±41.74] in lung tissue were significantly increased (all P < 0.05). Compared with the model group, the inflammatory changes of lung tissue in Qingzao Runfei Huazhuo Xingxue decoction intervention group were significantly reduced, lung W/D ratio (3.92±0.41 vs. 4.71±0.33), total protein content in BALF (mg/L: 213.21±19.62 vs. 363.98±18.24), TNF-α (ng/L: 124.15±0.27 vs. 185.72±0.23), IL-8 (ng/L: 238.42±35.82 vs. 531.85±37.83) and LTB4 (ng/L: 582.85±31.00 vs. 931.74±48.64) levels in lung tissue in Qingzao Runfei Huazhuo Xingxue decoction intervention group were significantly decreased (all P < 0.05). Conclusion Qingzao Runfei Huazhuo Xingxue decoction can improve PM2.5-induced damage and pathological inflammatory changes in lung tissue, which provided some new ideas for the treatment of PM2.5-induced respiratory diseases.

Nitric oxide (NO), which is involved in the regulation of the cardiovascular system, nervous system, immune system, reproductive system, digestive system and other physiological activities, is an important biological substance with activity. Under normal physiological conditions, neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) can precisely regulate the nervous system NO production, release, diffusion and inactivation processes. But an excess of NO associates with the development of cerebral ischemia, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's psychosis nervous system diseases, while inhibition of nNOS activity can regulate the content of NO in vivo, and produce a therapeutic effect on some of the nervous system diseases. This review mainly describes the structure and regulation of nNOS and recent developments of small molecule inhibitors of nNOS.
Alzheimer Disease ; physiopathology ; Brain Ischemia ; physiopathology ; Humans ; Nitric Oxide ; metabolism ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Parkinson Disease ; physiopathology

BACKGROUND:A variety of cytokines such as cytokines, growth factors and inflammatory proteins play an important role in the development of skeletal muscle.
OBJECTIVE:To investigate the biological characteristics of a variety of cytokines and their effects on skeletal muscle cel s and pancreaticβcel s.
METHODS:Relevant articles published from 2002 to 2015 were retrieved in CNKI and PubMed databases using the English keywords“cytokines, adiponectin, leptin, visfatin, skeletal muscle cel s, pancreaticβcel s”. Initial y 253 literatures were obtained, and final y 53 eligible literatures were included based on the exclusion criteria.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:As a fat-specific protein newly found, adiponectin can improve the insulin sensitivity by promoting glucose uptake, storage and utilization in skeletal muscle cel s. The activation of muscle satel ite cel s and skeletal myoblast proliferation are both dependent on leptin, so leptin plays a vital role in the skeletal muscle cel growth and development. Visfatin, a pleiotropic cytokine, widely presents in the skeletal muscle, liver and bone marrow, and participates in the regulation of inflammation and immune function. Furthermore, visfatin contributes to glucose uptake and metabolism in the skeletal muscle, and makes considerable effects on the stress and signal transduction of skeletal muscle cel s.

Objective To establish a stable and reliable model of brain death in swine, and to provide a more stable model for investigating pathomorphology in brain tissue and for studying transplantation immunology during brain death. Methods Base on the classic methodology of increasing epidural intracranial pressure, Codman intracranial pressure moni-toring probes were implanted in landrace pigs invasively. According to the relationship between ICP and MAP, brain death models were established by increasing intracranial pressure slowly and intermittently, with real-time monitoring of the intra-cranial pressure. Results Among twelve experimental landrace pigs, one died from anesthetic accident, while the rest elev-en were successfully established as brain death models. With effective respiratory and circulatory support, those brain death models can be maintained for (31.3 ± 4.7) h. Brain death model establishement is a stable and reliable process demonstrated by transcranial Doppler, EEG, ECG, mean arterial blood pressure and other monitoring methods. After brain death is con-firmed, animal models can be maintained for a long time. Conclusion Our methodology of inducing brain death model un-der ICP monitoring is stable and easy to be standardized. It can also provide a more stable model for studying brain tissue pathomorphology and transplantation immunology.

OBJECTIVE To provide gists for educations about AIDS control through finding out the knowledge among medical staff at a low infected area.METHODS The questionnaires including 30 questions of 5 kinds were analyzed.RESULTS The awareness rate of total knowledge among medical staff was 64.94%.The positive rate about common knowledge was upon 88%.But the rate about comprehensive knowledge such as diagnosis standard,therapy way,disinfection measure,career defending,law function,and so on was law.The correct answers on 17 questions among nurses were higher than doctors(P

Objective To evaluate the clinical characteristics and surgical risks for elderly patients with gastric cancer. Methods The clinical data from 607 patients, who received surgical therapy for gastric cancer between January 2006 and December 2009, were retrospectively analyzed.Among them, 267 patients were over 65 years of age, and the other 340 patients (≤65 years of age)were served as control. Complete surgical resection was done by doctors in same group. The preoperative complications such as cardiopulmonary disease and post-operative complications as well as pathologic patterns were compared between two groups. Results Coexisted diseases were found more in elderly patients than in controls (68.91% vs 31.63 %, P＜0.01). Whereas there was no significant difference between two groups with respect to post-operative complication [28. 19% (75/267)vs 25.59 % (87/340)]. However, the incidence of cardiopulmonary complications, especially pulmonary infection, was higher in elderly patients than in controls (17.23% vs 5.29% ,P＜0.01). The digestive tract complications were related to the pattern of radical operation. Post-operative complication occurred less in patients treated with D1 radical operation than those with D2 and D3 radical operation.Conclusions The incidence of post-operative complication in elderly patients with gastric cancer was closely related to the surgical method. The elderly patients may has less complications if they were operated with D1 radical method which can reduce risk of complication and improve the quality of life.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effectiveness of surgical strategies for Shang Ring circumcision in the treatment of short frenulum praeputii in patients with redundant prepuce or phimosis.

METHODSTotally, 130 cases of short frenulum praeputii with redundant prepuce or phimosis were randomly assigned to an experimental group and a control group of equal number to receive Shang Ring circumcision, the former by transverse incision in the distal penis foreskin and pull-up of the interior board, and the latter by conventional transverse incision and longitudinal suture of the frenulum praeputii. Comparisons were made between the two groups in the surgical duration, intraoperative blood loss, 24 h postoperative pain visual analog score (VAS), postoperative complications, satisfaction with the penile appearance, and the quality of sexual life.

RESULTSThe surgical duration, intraoperative blood loss, 24 h postoperative VAS, postoperative sexual satisfaction, and satisfaction with penile appearance were (4.60 +/- 1.20) min, (2.61 +/- 1.81) ml, 1.73 +/- 0.76, 98.5%, and 98.5%, respectively, in the experimental group, as compared with (21.60 +/- 6.30) min, (11.10 +/- 3.40) ml, 5.37 +/- 1.84, 70.3% and 69.8% in the control, with statistically significant differences between the two groups (P < 0.05). The incidence rates of such major complications as wound dehiscence, infection, and moderate to severe edema were 1.5% (1/65), 3.1% (2/65), and 4.6% (3/65), respectively, in the experimental group in comparison with 12.3% (8/65), 15.3% (10/65), and 30.7% (20/65) in the control, with statistically significant differences between the two groups (P < 0.05). None of patients had any serious complications.

CONCLUSIONShang Ring circumcision by transverse incision in the distal penis foreskin and pull-up of the interior board, with its advantages of shorter operation time, less blood loss, mild pain, fewer complications, and higher satisfaction and acceptance of the patients, can be used as an safe and effective approach to the treatment of short frenulum praeputii.

Aged ; Blood Loss, Surgical ; statistics & numerical data ; Circumcision, Male ; adverse effects ; instrumentation ; methods ; Edema ; epidemiology ; Foreskin ; abnormalities ; surgery ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Operative Time ; Pain Measurement ; Pain, Postoperative ; diagnosis ; Patient Satisfaction ; Phimosis ; surgery ; Postoperative Period ; Prostheses and Implants ; Surgical Wound Dehiscence ; epidemiology ; Surgical Wound Infection ; epidemiology