AIM　To study the effects of praeruptorin C (pra-C), a pure constituent isolated from “Qian-Hu”, the roots of Peucedanum praeruptorum Dunn. (Umbelliferae), on vascular hypertrophy, collagen content, transient ［Ca2+］i, NO and vascular response of the thoracic aorta of renovascular and spontaneously hypertensive rats (RHR, SHR). METHODS　RHR and SHR were given pra-C 20 mg.kg-1.d-1 for 9 weeks, ig. Blood pressure of both rats were measured using tail cuff manometry. Under inverted microscopy the length and width of the smooth muscle cells were measured by using computer software MICC (Dongnan University). ［Ca2+］i of smooth muscle cell (SMCs) was measured with Fura-2/AM. By measuring the specific aminoacid hydroxyproline content, the collagen content was obtained. By using Griess reagent, the NO in the smooth muscle cells (SMCs) was measured. RESULTS　The intermedia of the thoracic aorta in RHR was enlarged than that of the normal and pra-C groups. The size (length×width) of the SMCs of thoracic aorta from RHR increased 73.4 μm vs nomal 34.5 μm and pra-C 34 μm. The collagen content of thoracic aorta was 39%±6.8% dry weight in RHR, they were 26.5%±3% dry weight in normal and 25.6%±1.1% dry weight in pra-C, RHR vs pra-C. The resting ［Ca2+］i of single cell of SMCs was (62±6) nmol.L-1. In Hanks solution containing CaCl2 1 mmol.L-1, the resting ［Ca2+］i of SMCs was (150±8) nmol.L-1 in normal. (226±11) nmol.L-1 in RHR. In presence of KCl 60 mmol.L-1, NE 10 μmol.L-1, ANG II 100 nmol.L-1 and ATP 30 μmol.L-1 the ［Ca2+］i of SMCs were increased by 128%; 132%; 233% and 152% in RHR, respectively. The pra-C group was similar to the normal group. The resting ［Ca2+］i of SMCs was (71±6) nmol.L-1 in control of SHR, in Hanks solution containing CaCl2 1 mmol.L-1. The resting ［Ca2+］i of SMCs was (160±8) nmol.L-1 in normal, and (362±18) nmol.L-1 in SHR. In presence KCl 60 mmol.L-1 and NE 10 μmol.L-1 the ［Ca2+］i of SMCs were increased by 235% and 200% in SHR, respectively. Pra-C group was similar to normal group. NO of SMCs was decreased 76% in SHR, pra-C group was nearly normal. The pra-C improved vascular responses of the thoracic aorta of RHR. CONCLUSION　These results indicate that pra-C improved the vacular hypertrophy by decreasing the size of SMCs cells, collagen content. SMCs ［Ca2+］i and increasing NO production.

Objective To explore the treatment opportunity of mechanical ventilation for acute severe organophosphorus pesticide poisoning patients with respiratory failure.Methods According to the different indications of mechanical ventilation,115 acute severe organophosphorus pesticide poisoning patients with respiratory failure were divided into the observation group A (40 cases),the observation group B(38 cases)and the control group(37 cases).The cure rate,aspiration pneumonia incidence,duration of mechanical ventilation,length of hospital stay of the three groups were analyzed.Results The cure rate of the observation group A(97.5％) was significantly higher than that of the control group(83.4％)and the observation group B (92.1％) (P ＜ 0.05 or P ＜ 0.01) ;The aspiration pneumonia of the observation group(2 cases) was significantly less than that of the control group(8 cases)(P ＜ 0.05) ;The hospitalization time [(4.46 ± 0.51) d,(7.11 ± 0.83) d] and the duration of mechanical ventilation [(55.40 ± 5.24)h,(79.47 ± 2.44) h] of the observation group A and the observation group B were significantly shorter than those of the control group [(10.40 ± 1.12) d,(100.30 ± 2.15) h] (all P ＜ 0.01) ; The hospitalization time and the duration of mechanical ventilation of the observation group A [(4.46 ± 0.51) d,(55.40 ± 5.24) h] were significantly shorter than those of the observation group B [(7.11 ± 0.83)d,(79.47 ± 2.44)h] (all P ＜ 0.01).Conclusion Respiratory rate ≥30 times/min and ＜ 34 times/min or ≤ 10 times/min,or spontaneous breathing weakened,and blood gas analysis prompted hypoxemia(60 mm Hg ＜ PaO2 ≤ 70 mm Hg)is best opportunity of mechanical ventilation for acute severe organophosphorus pesticide poisoning patients with respiratory failure.

Effects of preconditioning(PC) and praeruptorine C(Pra-C) on intracellular free calcium level(［Ca2+］i) and NO content in hypertrophied vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) with hypoxia were studied. ①The aorta VSMC of rats with renovascular hypertension induced by two-kidney-one-clip(2K1C) were isolated and cultured. Fura-2/AM was as a calcium fluorescent indicator. It was seen that Pra-C(20 mg*kg-1*d-1，ig, for 9 weeks from week 9 after 2K1C) and PC (3 cycles of 5 min pure N2 and 5 min 95%O2+5%CO2) antagonisted the elevated activities(higher ［Ca2+］i) induced by KCl and norepinephrine in VSMC with hypo- xia (30 min pure N2). ② In hypertrophied VSMC stimulated by angiotensinⅡ, combination of Pra-C(10 μmol*L-1 for 24 h) and PC enhanced NO content to the normal level in hypertrophied VSMC with hypo- xia. The results suggest that combination of Pra-C and PC have cooperative protection for hypertrophied VSMC with hypoxia injury.

Objective To analyze the relation between ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR)and the changes of left ventricular systolic synchrony and volume parameters before and after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)in patients with subacute myocardial infarction and to evaluate the impact of PCI on IMR by measuring such changes with three-dimensional echocardiography volume quantitation technology. Methods Eighty-seven patients were enrolled and echo data were acquired before and 6 months after PCI. Patients were classified into alleviation group (group Ⅰ)and non-alleviation group (group Ⅱ)according to the change of mitral regurgitation volume (MRvol).The systolic synchrony indexes (Tmsv 1 6-SD%,Tmsv 1 6-Dif%)and left ventricle volume parameters (LVEDVI and LVESVI)before and after PCI for patients of two groups were measured and contrasted.Results Systolic synchrony indexes of all patients of two groups were improved after PCI.Left ventricular volume parameters were decreased after PCI in group Ⅰ,and the remodeling was reduced.Correlation analysis of the parameters variations showed that,there was significant positive correlation between variations of left ventricular volume and MRvol in all patients and no significant correlation between variation of systolic synchrony index and MRvol.Conclusions PCI can improve left ventricular systolic dyssynchrony for submyocardial infarct patients.Left ventricular volume index that reflects the remodeling process is closely related to IMR.

Discussed in the paper are case-based payment practice in China,and outcomes of this practice for the past ten years.The authors pointed out that compared with DRGs,such a practice is exposed to such risks as low coverage of diseases,incompatible policies,defective pricing method,and lack of comprehensive evaluation.It indicates that China is on the initial stage of case-based payment reform which should be promoted with reference to international experiences.

A study was made on the effects of Dephenetin on vascular resistance and cardiotonic action in anesthetized dogs. The results showed that Dephenetin reduced left coronary cifcumflexus, vertebral and femoral ateries resistance, it increased cardiac out put without significant heart rate changes.The results also showed that Dephenetin dilates peripheral vessels and produced positive inotropic action.

In the isolated rabbit aorta, like verapamil ( Ver ) anisodamine ( Ani ) might inhibit the contraction induced by phenylephrine ( PE ) and high K+ with IC50 value of 120 and 86 ? mol/L, respectively. PE/K+ ratio of IC50 was 1.4 which was less than that of Ver. It showed that although PDC may be more sensitive to Ani than ROC, the difference in sensitivity of Ani on 2 calcium chan- nel are less marked than that of some calcium antagonists. Ani had inhibitory effects on 2 contractile components of serotonin (5-HT ) . Ani and Ver could obviously inhibit post-resting potentiatipn and staircase phenomenon in guinea pig atria. Ani also might inhibit the contraction induced by calcium and shift concentration-response nonparallelly to right on both tissues above.The results suggest that Ani possesses nonspecific calcium antagonistic effect and reduces the tension by affecting PDC and ROC to decrease extracellular calcium influx and inhibiting intracellular calcium release.

Purpose To investigate the expression of secreted frizzled-related protein 4 (SFRP4) and to evaluate its clinical significance in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).Methods RT-PCR was performed to analyze SFRP4 mRNA expression level in 30 paired PDAC lesion and matched adjacent non-tuimor tissue.Immunohistochemistry staining detection of 205 matched cases tissue microarray was conducted to explore SFRP4 protein expression pattern.The correlation between SFRP4 and clinical characteristics was also analyzed,including overall survival.Results SFRP4 expression pattern both at mRNA and protein level in PDAC lesion was higher than that in matched adjacent non-tumor tissue.At mRNA level,to found that expression of SFRP4 was elevated in 90％ (27/30) of PDAC tissues (P =0.007 2).To found that high expression of SFRP4 was detected in 56.5％ (116/205) of PDAC tissue,while only 28.8％ (59/205) in the adjacent non-tumor tissue.Moreover,no significant association was observed between SFRP4 expression and clinical characteristics.Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed high level of SFRP4 expression was correlated with poor overall survival (x2 =3.467,P =0.024).Conclusion SFRP4 can be a novel prognostic biomarker in PDAC.

Objective: To explore the inhibitiory effect of antisense oligodeoxynucleotide(ASODN) of survivin gene on the cultured osteosarcoma cell line MG63 and its sensitization effect to chemotherapy.Methods: survivin phosphorothioate ASODN was synthesized and transfected into MG63 cells by lipofectamine 2000.MTT assay was used to detect cell inhibition ratio.Apoptosis was observed by flow cytometry.Survivin mRNA and protein expression were determined by RT-PCR and Western blot respectively.Results: The proliferation of the cells transfected by lipofectamine 2000 was inhibited by survivin ASODN in a dose and time dependent manner.A higher total apoptosis rate(81.12?3.2)% could be induced in MG 63 cells in group Lip-ASODN than in group Lip-SODN(27.09?2.1)%(P

Objective In order to enhance the understanding of Churg- Strauss syndrome, the clinical manifestations and the pathological features of 15 patients were reviewed. Methods The clinical and patho- logical findings of 15 patients with Churg- Strauss syndrome admitted to Peking Union Medical College Hospi- tal were retrospectively analysed. Results In 15 cases, the initial clinical manifestations were poly- mononeu- ropathy, gastrointestinal disorders and skin lesions. Peripheral eosinophilia was significant in all cases. Biopsies were taken in all cases. The typical pathological features usually demonstrated in diffiferent stage of the dis- ease. Conclusions If a patient shows a clinical manifestation of fever, skin lesions, neuropathy, abdominal pain and diarrhea, as well as eosinophilia in peripheral blood, the diagnosis of Churg- Strauss syndrome should be considered. It is necessary to take biopsies from several sites at different time.