Objective To investigate the effect of acupuncture at point Neiguan on mouse myocardial hypertrophy.Methods Thirty-sixty healthy C57BL6 mice were randomized into blank, model and treatment groups, 12 rats each. In the treatment group, an acupuncture needle was inserted into point Neiguan and retained for 15 min, once daily. After nine days of treatment, the ratios of cardiac weight/tibial length were compared between the groups. Left ventricular myocardial tissues were processed by Masson trichrome staining in every group of mice. The differences in myocardial fiber arrangement and collagen fiber distribution between the groups were observed under the ordinary optical microscope in 100 times of field of vision. Sarcomere structure, myofibril arrangement, collagen fibers and mitochondria in injured myocardial tissues were observed by transmission electron microscopy. Results Heart rate increased significantly in the model group and decreased significantly in the acupuncture group compared with the blank group. Cardiac weight and the ratios of cardiac weight/tibial length increased significantly in the model and acupuncture groups compared with the blank group (P<0.01) and decreased significantly in the acupuncture group compared with the model group (P<0.01). In the model group, myocardial tissues had compensatory hypertrophy with incontinuous status, and myocardial transverse striations had severe disorder/disruption, karyopyknosis appeared and cytoplasmic eosinophilic change became obvious in few of the rats. The results were better in the acupuncture group than in the model group. In the model group, part of myofibrils had focal fusion, interstitial collagen fibers proliferated and mitochondria had swelling and compensatory increase. The results were also better in the acupuncture group than in the model group.Conclusions Acupuncture at point Neiguan can reduce the production of collagen fibers and mitochondria, improve the arrangement of sarcomere structure and delay the progression of myocardial hypertrophy.

Objective To observe the effect of bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7) on proliferation,activation and TGF? signaling in TGF?1 inducing hepatic stellate cells (HSC),and its anti-fibrosis mechanism.Methods Human HSC LX-2 cell line was treated with BMP-7 at different concentrations (80,40,20 ng/ml) and TGF?1(5 ng/ml).Proliferation of HSC LX-2 cells was detected with cell counting kit-8 (CCK8).Expressions of ?-smooth muscle actin (?-SMA) and collagen Ⅰ,as well as TGF receptors Ⅰ and Ⅱ (TGF?RⅠ,TGF?RⅡ) mRNA,Smad 3,7 mRNAs,were detected by immunocytochemical assay and RT-PCR,respectively.Results No significant difference was found in proliferation of LX-2 cells before and after treatment with TGF?1.BMP-7 used at different concentrations (80,40,20 ng/ml) inhibited the proliferation of LX-2 with an inhibition rate of 28.9%,19.6% and 10.5%,respectively (P

Moyamoya disease ( MMD) is a progressive cerebrovascular disease with characteristics of ethnic susceptibility and familial aggregation. The pathological changes of slenosed vessels in MMD includc intima thickening,tunica media thinning,irregular undulation of the internal elastic laminae and lymphocytic infiltration The etiology and pathogenesis arc not completely clarified. It is presently thought that this disease is related to endothelial cells,smooth muscle cells,abnormal metabolism of extracellular matrix and inflammatory responses. This review will discuss,from genetic.cellular environmental and immunological perspectives,the specific roles of several genes in the development of MMD, including endothelial cell susceptibility gene ring finger protein 213,smooth muscle ccll susceptibility genes,extracellular matrix genes,angiogenesis factors and immune-related genes.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of high-pressure carbon monoxide for preservation of ex vivo rabbit heart graft in comparison with the conventional HTK cardioplegic solution preservation. Methods Heart grafts isolated from 85 New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into Naive group (n=5), HTK group (n=40) and CO group (n=40). The grafts underwent no preservation procedures in Naive group, preserved at 4 ℃ in HTK cardioplegic solution in HTK group, and preserved at 4℃in a high-pressure tank (PO2:PCO=3200 hPa:800 hPa) in CO group with Krebs-Henseleit solution perfusion but without cardioplegic solution. After preservation for 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 14, 18, and 24 h, 5 grafts from the two preservation groups were perfused for 30 min with a modified Langendorff apparatus and examined for left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), left ventricular diastolic pressure (LVDP), arrhythmia score (AS), myocardial ultrestructure, and cardiac enzyme profiles. Results After preservation for 6 to 24 h, the cardiac enzyme profiles and systolic and diastolic functions were significantly better in CO group than in HTK group, but these differences were not obvious between the two groups after graft preservation for 2 to 4 h. Significant changes in the myocardial ultrastructures occurred in the isolated hearts after a 24-h preservation in both CO and HTK groups, but the myocardial damages were milder in CO group. Conclusion Preservation using high-pressure carbon monoxide can better protect isolated rabbit heart graft than the conventional HTK preservation approach especially for prolonged graft preservation.

Objective To investigate the protective effect of high-pressure carbon monoxide for preservation of ex vivo rabbit heart graft in comparison with the conventional HTK cardioplegic solution preservation. Methods Heart grafts isolated from 85 New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into Naive group (n=5), HTK group (n=40) and CO group (n=40). The grafts underwent no preservation procedures in Naive group, preserved at 4 ℃ in HTK cardioplegic solution in HTK group, and preserved at 4℃in a high-pressure tank (PO2:PCO=3200 hPa:800 hPa) in CO group with Krebs-Henseleit solution perfusion but without cardioplegic solution. After preservation for 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 14, 18, and 24 h, 5 grafts from the two preservation groups were perfused for 30 min with a modified Langendorff apparatus and examined for left ventricular systolic pressure (LVSP), left ventricular diastolic pressure (LVDP), arrhythmia score (AS), myocardial ultrestructure, and cardiac enzyme profiles. Results After preservation for 6 to 24 h, the cardiac enzyme profiles and systolic and diastolic functions were significantly better in CO group than in HTK group, but these differences were not obvious between the two groups after graft preservation for 2 to 4 h. Significant changes in the myocardial ultrastructures occurred in the isolated hearts after a 24-h preservation in both CO and HTK groups, but the myocardial damages were milder in CO group. Conclusion Preservation using high-pressure carbon monoxide can better protect isolated rabbit heart graft than the conventional HTK preservation approach especially for prolonged graft preservation.

Objective:To investigate the predictive value of YKL-40 at admission on stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP) and poor outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS).Methods:Patients with AIS admitted to Taixing People’s Hospital from February 2020 to March 2021 were enrolled prospectively. The poor outcome was defined as 3-6 points on the modified Rankin Scale at 90 d after onset. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent predictors of SAP and poor outcome, and the predictive value of serum YKL-40 on SAP and poor outcome was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results:A total of 377 patients with AIS were enrolled. The median serum YKL-40 was 127.16 μg/L. One hundred and four patients (27.6%) had SAP, and 126 (33.4%) had poor outcomes at 90 d after onset. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that after adjusting for confounding factors, YKL-40 was the independent predictors of SAP (odds ratio [ OR] 1.005, 95% confidence interval [ CI] 1.003-1.008; P=0.001) and poor outcome at 90 d ( OR 1.009, 95% CI 1.006-1.011; P=0.001). The ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of YKL-40 for predicting SAP was 0.769 (95% CI 0.713-0.824; P<0.001), the best cutoff value was 168.70 μg/L, and the sensitivity and specificity were 71.2% and 75.1% respectively; the area under the curve of YKL-40 for predicting poor outcome at 90 d was 0.787 (95% CI 0.735-0.840; P<0.001), the best cutoff value was 195.56 μg/L, and the sensitivity and specificity were 68.3% and 84.1% respectively. Conclusion:Higher serum YKL-40 at admission has a good predictive value for SAP and poor outcome at 90 d in patients with AIS.

Objective:To investigate the efficacy and safety of distal transradial access for cerebral angiography and neurointervention.Methods:The literature about distal transradial access for cerebral angiography and neurointervention were searched in PubMed, EMbase, the Cochrane Library, CNKI, WanFang Data, and VIP database from January 2015 to September 2021. Two reviewers independently screened the literature and extracted data according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, evaluated the literature quality according to the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. The R 4.0.5 software was used for meta-analysis.Results:A total of 12 articles with 987 patients were enrolled. All the studies were retrospective design and did not compare with the results of proximal transradial access and transfemoral access. A meta-analysis of the operation success rate and complication rate using a fixed effect model showed that the operation success rate of distal transradial access was 96% (95% confidence interval 95%-97%), and the incidence of minor complications was 3% (95% confidence interval 2%-4%). One patient had serious complications.Conclusion:The distal transradial access is a safe and effective alternative approach for cerebral angiography and neurointervention.

Objective:To establish an air-pouch bladder cancer (APBCa) model and investigate whether it could be a new animal model to evaluate the efficacy of intravesical therapy through chemotherapeutics and BCG instillation.Methods:Filtered sterile air was injected subcutaneously into the backs of BALB/c Nude mice to create a 2.5 cm×3.5 cm air pouch. After 24 hours, human bladder cancer cells EJ were seeded on the inner face of the pouch wall to establish APBCa of human cancer (H-APBCa). Gemcitabine instillation was used to investigate whether chemotherapy could inhibit tumor growth in the H-APBCa model, and Tunel staining was used to verify the apoptosis of tumor cells 20-day treatment. Filtered sterile air was injected subcutaneously into the backs of C57BL/6 mice to create a 2.5 cm×3.5 cm air pouch. After 24 hours, mice bladder cancer cells MB49 were seeded on the inner face of the pouch wall to establish APBCa with intact immunity (I-APBCa). BCG instillation was used to investigate whether BCG could inhibit tumor growth in the APBCa model. Immunofluorescence was used to verify the infiltration of immune cells after 20-day treatment.Results:H-APBCa and I-APBCa mice models could be established by immune deficiency and intact mice. At day 20, chemotherapeutic instillation therapy could inhibit tumor growth (781.02±241.02 vs. 1213.88±214.02 mm 3, P<0.05) by inducing tumor cell apoptosis with statistically significant differences (77.33±4.63 vs. 14.67±2.60, P<0.05). BCG instillation was able to inhibit tumor growth (645.02±156.63 vs. 948.84±221.76, P<0.05) by increasing CD80 + macrophage (49.67±7.57 vs. 16.33±5.69, P<0.05) and T cells in the tumor with statistically significant differences (18.00±3.46 vs. 4.67±1.45, P<0.05). Conclusions:APBCa model could evaluate the efficacy of drug instillation and was expected to be a new animal model for studying drug for intravesical therapy.

Objective:To investigate the correlation between collateral circulation and infarct pattern and outcome in acute ischemic stroke patients with anterior circulation intracranial atherosclerosis.Methods:Acute ischemic stroke patients with anterior circulation intracranial atherosclerotic severe stenosis or occlusion admitted to the Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical College from September 2018 to March 2020 were included prospectively. According to diffusion-weighted imaging, the infarct patterns were divided into perforator pattern, territorial pattern, watershed pattern, and mixed pattern. At 90 d after onset, the modified Rankin Scale was used to evaluate the outcome. 0-2 was defined as good outcome, and >2 was defined as poor outcome. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to determine the independent influencing factors of clinical outcome. Results:A total of 89 patients were enrolled, 50 (56.2%) had good collateral circulation and 39 (43.8%) had poor collateral circulation. The distribution patterns of infarct: 22 patients (24.7%) were perforator pattern, 26 (29.2%) were territorial pattern, 17 (19.1%) were watershed pattern, and 24 (30.0%) were mixed pattern. The proportion of patients with good collateral circulation was 81.8%, 65.4%, 29.4% and 41.7%, respectively in the perforator pattern group, territorial pattern group, watershed pattern group, and mixed pattern group. Good collateral circulation was more common in the perforator pattern group, and poor collateral circulation was more common in the watershed pattern group. At 90 d after onset, 53 patients (59.6%) had a good outcome and 36 (40.4%) had a poor outcome. The baseline homocysteine level in the good outcome group was significantly lower than that in the poor outcome group (17.91±4.62 μmol/L vs. 20.35±4.67 μmol/L; t=2.436, P=0.017), and the proportion of patients with good collateral circulation was significantly higher than that of patients with poor outcome (73.6% vs. 30.6%; χ2=16.124, P<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that higher homocysteine level was an independent risk factor for poor outcome (odds ratio 1.174, 95% confidence interval 1.061-1.298; P=0.002) and good collateral circulation was an independent protective factor for good outcome (odds ratio 0.095, 95% confidence interval 0.038-0.239; P<0.001). Conclusions:Good collateral circulation was more common in patients with perforator pattern, and poor collateral circulation was more common in patients with watershed pattern. Good collateral circulation was independently associated with the good clinical outcome in acute ischemic stroke patients with anterior circulation intracranial atherosclerosis.

Objective To systematically evaluate the incidence rate of low-level viremia(LLV)in chronic hepatitis B(CHB)patients and related influencing factors,and to provide evidence-based medicine evidence for effective intervention and prevention of LLV in clinical practice.Methods This study was conducted according to the PRISMA guideline,with a PROSPERO registration number of CRD42023455304.CNKI,Wanfang Data,VIP,SinoMed,PubMed,Embase,Web of Science,and the Cochrane library were searched for observational studies on LLV and related influencing factors in CHB patients published up to July 21,2023.Stata 16.0 software was used to perform the meta-analysis.Results A total of 12 articles were included,with a total sample size of 3408 cases,among whom there were 1181 patients with LLV.The meta-analysis showed that the incidence rate of LLV was 32.8%(95%confidence interval[CI]:27.6%—38.3%)in treatment-experienced CHB patients.High HBsAg quantification(odds ratio[OR]=2.107,95%CI:1.782—2.491,P<0.001),positive HBeAg(OR=3.258,95%CI:2.629—4.038,P<0.001),high HBV DNA level at baseline(OR=1.286,95%CI:1.157—1.430,P<0.001),and history of entecavir treatment(OR=3.089,95%CI:1.880—5.074,P<0.001)were risk factors for LLV;duration of antiviral therapy≥3 years(OR=0.175,95%CI:0.093—0.331,P<0.001)and high alanine aminotransferase level at baseline(OR=0.985,95%CI:0.978—0.992,P<0.001)were protective factors against LLV.The sensitivity analysis showed no significant change in effective value,suggesting that the results of the meta-analysis were relatively stable.The funnel plot of the studies included was basically symmetrical,and the results of the Egger's test and the Begg's test suggested that there was no obvious publication bias in the articles included.Conclusion Clinicians should guide decision making based on the influencing factors for LLV and related clinical evidence,so as to reduce long-term clinical risks and avoid adverse outcomes.