Objective To quantitatively assess left ventricular systolic function in rabbits with dilated cardiomyopathy(DCM) by quantitative tissue velocity imaging (QTVI). Methods Thirty rabbits were divided into two groups: group A(adriamycin group) and group B(sodium chloride group). Group A( n = 20) were given adriamycin 2 mg/kg intravenously once a week for eight weeks (total dose, 16 mg/kg) to induce DCM model, group B were given with the same dose of sodium chloride injection solution. Two dimensional echocardiography and QTVI examination were performed in all rabbits before and three weeks after the administration,respectively. Peak systolic velocity(Vs), peak displacement(D) and other common parameters were analyzed. Results Common parameters assessed after administration in group B did not show significant changes. The QTVI curves of left ventricle myocardium were regular and the value of Vs and D decreased gradually from the basal segments to the apical segments after the administration. The diameters of atrium and ventricle of group A increased,while the ejection fraction and fractional shortening of left ventricle decreased significantly ( P <0. 05 or P < 0.01). The pattern of the curves still had the regularity. But Vs and D value decreased significantly ( P <0. 05 or P <0. 01). Pathology of myocardium samples of group A showed the cardiomyocyte changes like dilated cardiomyopathy, while samples of group B had no significant change. Conclusions QTVI can accurately evaluate regional systolic function of left ventricle in rabbits with dilated cardiomyopathy, therefore provides experimental foundation for clinical observation and treatment.

Objective To evaluate gene associated with retinoid-interferon-induced mortality-19 (GRIM-19) expression levels and the correlation with its target gene product signal transducers and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3)in human breast cancer tissues and normal gland tissues,and to analyze their roles in the tumorigenesis of breast cancer.Methods The expression of GRIM-19 and STAT3 protein and mRNA in 40 cases of breast cancer tissues and 40 cases of normal gland tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry and Western blot.The correlation of the expression of GRIM-19 and STAT3 to various clinicopathologic characteristics of breast cancer were analyzed statistically.The mRNA expression and gene mutation of GRIM-19 in breast cancer cell line MCF-7 and 25 specimens of breast cancer and normal gland tissue were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR)and sequencing.Results The protein and mRNA expression of GRIM-19 was obviously lower in breast cancer than in normal gland tissues (P ＜ 0.05) while the protein and mRNA expression of STAT3 was obviously higher in breast cancer than in normal gland tissues(P ＜0.05).The expression of GRIM-19 and STAT3 was negatively correlated with each other(x2 =8.25,P ＜0.01).Breast cancer samples exhibited low level of GRIM-19 and moderate to high level of STAT3 expression.In contrast,the normal gland tissue was characterized by high level of GRIP-19 and low level of STAT3 expression.The protein expression of GRIM-19 was correlated with the histological grading and clinical stage of breast cancer(P ＜ 0.05).STAT3 was not correlated with clinicopathologic characteristics of breast cancer (P ＞ 0.05).No mutation of GRIM-19 gene was detected in breast cancer tissues,normal gland tissues or MCF-7 breastcancer cells.Conclusions The low expression of GRIM-19 and the high expression of STAT3 co-exist in breast cancer.Downregulation of GRIM-19 was closely correlated with increased histological grade,clinical stage and STAT3 in breast cancer.The potential role of GRIM-19 in breast cancer development may be through these correlations.

Objective To analyze the new breeding of eggplant "HANGQIE-5"(HQ-5) generated by space mutagenesis with RAPD,identify the differential RAPD bands,and try to provide molecular proofs for space mutation breeding.Methods Dry seeds of two eggplants "Tianshuichangqie(TSCQ)" and Longguoyuanqie(LGYQ) were carried by "shenzhou-4" and "shenzhou-3"spaceship.Two mutant lines "TSCQ-MUT-4" and "LGYQ-MUT-4" were selected after four generations of self-cross of TSCQ and LGYQ.A new variety of "HQ-5" was selected by crossing the two lines of "TSCQ-MUT-4" and "LGYQ-MUT-4",which were male and female,respectively.The RAPD reaction system was optimized with orthogonal design and further RAPD analysis was applied.Results The RAPD reaction system was determined as follows: DNA: 40 ng,dNTPs: 7.5 nmol,primer: 10 ng,and rTaq polymerase: 1.25 U.The RAPD results displayed that TSCQ-MUT-4 produced four differential bands compared with its wild type,while LGYQ-MUT-4 produced one,through space flight.Six differential fragments were amplified between HQ-5 and the paternal/maternal.HQ-5 not only shared the common fragments with its parents,but also held some particular ones,which were stably inherited.Conclusion The results indicate that space mutagenesis could cause mutations in DNA of plants,and is helpful to generate a new breeding.

Objective To investigate the clinical efficacy and prognosis of early protective pulmonary ventilation and intra-aortic balloon pump(IABP)combined with percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI)in treating patients with acute myocardial infarction(AMI)complicated with cardiogenic shock(CS)and hypoxemia.Methods The 49 patients diagnosed as AMI complicated with CS and hypoxemia and treated with early protective pulmonary ventilation and IABP combined with PCI in Tianjin Chest Hospital from January 2015 to December 2015 were retrospectively analyzed.Major adverse cardiovascular events(MACE)including sudden cardiac death,recurrent myocardial infarction,heart failure and development of target vessel revascularization were recorded during one year of follow-up visits.Survival rate was analyzed and Cox regression analysis was used to explore risk factors for occurrence of MACE after the treatment.Results The revascularization of target vessel was successfully operated on all of the 49 patients.The mean time from attack to hospitalization was(6.2±1.5)hours,while the mean time from emergency room to balloon dilatation was(118.55±28.28)minutes.In these patients,30(61.2%)cases were diagnosed as STEMI,among which 23(76.6%)cases as anterior wall myocardial infarction and 5(16.7%)cases as inferior wall myocardial infarction.While the other 19(38.8%)cases were diagnosed as non-STEMI.Using coronary arteriography,46(93.9%)cases had multi-vessel coronary artery disease,among which 13(26.5%)cases were complicated with severe left main coronary artery disease and 27(55.1%)cases had severe vascular calcification.44(89.8%)cases had TIMI perfusion grade 3 blood flow after PCI,while 5(10.2%)cases did not achieve TIMI grade 3 blood flow.One(2.0%)case had serious complications and 12(24.5%)patients died in hospital.31(63.3%)patients survived 1 year during follow-up visits.Total number of MACE was 32(65.3%).Among these events,18(36.7%)died,4 cases(8.2%)had recurrent myocardial infarction,13 cases(26.5%)had heart failure(HF)and 5 cases(10.2%)had target vessel revascularization(TVR).The total event-free survival rate was 34.7%.Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that severe vascular calcification〔HR(95%CI):2.677(1.184-6.054),P=0.018〕,TIMI grade blood flow less than level 3 after PCI〔HR(95%CI):26.289(6.314-109.470),P=0.000〕and more than 120 minutes from emergency room to balloon dilatation〔HR(95%CI):2.923(1.325-6.446),P=0.008〕were risk factors for MACE.Conclusions Early protective pulmonary ventilation and IABP combined with emergency PCI are safe and effective for treatment of patients with AMI complicated with CS and hypoxemia.The pattern of treatment can significantly decrease death rate and increase 1-year survival rate.

Objective To study the effects of salt sensitivity on evolution of blood pressure and develope- ment to hypertension from adolescents to youth.Methods A baseline survey was carried out in 4623 adolescents aged 6-15 years old in Hanzhong rural area in 1987,310 of them were recruited for determination of salt sensitiv- ity using the tests of oral saline load and furosemide sodium-volume depletion.Salt sensitivity (SS) were diag- nosed in 101 while 209 subjects as no-sah sensitivity (NSS).This cohort of adolescents were followed up for av- erage 18 years.Results The response rate for this cohort of adolescents was 71.9%.At the end of follow up period,BP in subjects with baseline SS was higher in youth than that in NSS (SBP:122.9?13.1 vs 117.3?12.4, P

Background The visual system of animal have to optimally adjust in various environmental conditions in order to obtain stable and effective visual funetion.However,the color vision system of animals which encounter uncertainty of spectral signals should be plastic.Whether the densities of various cones and expression of opsins change with long-time spectral deprivation is unclear.Objective This study was to investigate the changes of cone density as well as the expression of corresponding opsin and mRNA following the long-term illumination of monochromatic light.Methods Thirty 3-day-old guinea pigs were randomized into 3 groups and exposed tO the 530 nm green light,400 nm purple light and white light for consecutive 8 weeks respectively.The flat-mounted retinal sample was prepared and divided into dorsal zone,ventral zone and mixed zone anatomically according to the distribution of difierent light-sensitive cone.The changes in density of cone cells sensitivited to different colored light were detected by single-1abel or double-label immunocytochemistry.The levels of opsin and its mRNA were determined using Western-blot and real-time PCR respectively.Results The density of green-sensitivity cones was significantly different in the dorsal zone of retina among green light group,purple light group and white light group (F=234.28,P<0.01).Compared with white light group,the density of green-sensitive cones in dorsal retina of green light group was obviously higher but that of purple light group wag evidently lower(q=389.68,P<0.01；q=67.11,P<0.01).No significant difference was found in the density of purple-sensitive cones in the ventral zone of retina among green light group,purple light group and white light group(F=3.14,P>0.05).The density of coexpression of the mixed cone cells was increased in green light group(q=157.55,P<0.01)but decreased in purple light roup (q=254.85,P<0.01)in comparison with white light group.The expression levels of green-opsin and green-opsin mRNA in green light group was significantly elevated(q=184.45,P<0.01；q=4.71,P<0.05),but those of purple light group were evidently declined(q=5.87,P<0.05；q=346.66,P<0.01)in comparison with white light group.There was no statistically significant differences were found in the expression of purple-opsin and its mRNA among all the groups(F=1.24,P>0.05；F=3.27,P>0.05).Conclusion After the exposure of long-time monochromatic light illumination,monochromatic cones density and its opsin in guinea pig occur the corresponding alteration to gain good spatial vision as a compensatory reaction.These outcomes imply that there is some plasticity during the development of color vision.The increase of green-sensitive cones might be from the differentiation of coexpression cones in transition region.

Objective To investigate the role of transcriptional-coactivator with PDZ-binding motif( TAZ) in genistein-induced osteoblastogenic differentiation of mouse bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells ( BMSCs) .Methods Mouse BMSCs were cultured in phenol red-freeα-MEM containing osteogenic supplements for inducing osteogenic differentiation.BMSCs were transfected with siRNA-TAZ and treated with genistein.The temporal sequence of osteoblastic differentiation in BMSCs cultures was assayed by measuring alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP) and calcium deposition.The mRNA expression of bone sialoprotein ( BSP) and osteocalcin ( OC) were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).The binding interaction between TAZ and cbfa1 was identified by co-immunoprecipitation.Results TAZ expression was detected during the induction of osteogenic differentiation, the ALP activity and calcium deposition were significantly decreased in BMSCs which were transfected with siRNA-TAZ.Genistein(0.01-1 μmol/L) exhibited a dose-dependent effect on TAZ expression in mouse BMSCs cultures.Treatment with genistein ( 1 μmol/L ) resulted in increased ALP avtivity and calcium deposition of BMSC cultures as function of time.Genistein(1μmol/L) also promoted the nuclear localization of TAZ and augmented the interaction between TAZ and cbfa1, and by which upregulated cbfa1-mediated gene expression such as BSP and OC.However, the ALP avtivity and calcium deposition, as well as the expression of BSP and OC were not promoted by genistein in BMSCs transfected with siRNA-TAZ.Conclusion These data suggest that the TAZ plays an important role in genistein-induced osteoblastic differentiation of mouse BMSCs cultures.

Objective To explore the diagnostic value of endoscopic ultrasonography(EUS)for the minimal submucosal invasion of early gastrointestinal tumor. Methods A total of 242 patients with early gastrointestinal tumor,who underwent endoscopic submucosal dissection,were retrospectively analyzed. The accuracy of EUS diagnosis was calculated based on postoperative histopathological findings as the golden standard,and influencing factors were also analyzed. Results Overall diagnostic accuracy of EUS for sub-mucosal invasion of early gastrointestinal tumors was 72. 3%(175/ 242),with an overstaging rate of 21. 5%(52/ 242)and an understaging rate of 6. 2%(15/ 242).Tumor size(P = 0. 018)and location(P = 0. 005) had significant effects on the diagnostic accuracy of the minimal submucosal invasion of early gastrointestinal tumor by EUS. The overstaging rate in the lesion length of diameter>3 cm was higher than those of 3 cm or less[27. 0%(33/ 122)VS 15. 8%(19/ 120),P = 0. 807],the overstaging rates of early colonrectal and gastric cancer were also significantly higher than the understaging rate[ Colonrectum:12. 2%(9/ 74)VS 2. 7%(2/ 74),P= 0. 028;Stomach:26. 9%(28/ 104)VS 2. 9%(3/ 104),P = 0. 000]. Conclusion Endoscopic ultrasonography is of diagnostic value for the invasion depth of early cancer in gastrointestinal tract. However,precaution should be taken in large lesions and the tendency of overstaging in gastrointestinal tract.

ObjectiveIn an attempt to clarify the usefulness of combined nerve and muscle biopsy in the diagnosis of neuromuscular disease when compared with traditional sural nerve biopsy.Methods Fifteen biopsies of superficial peroneal nerve (SPN) and peroneus brevis muscle ( PBM ) by one incision performed within one neurological clinic were reviewed.All patients had peripheral neuropathy while 3 of them had myopathy clinically.The diagnostic significance of SPN and PBM biopsies were classified into 3 grade: essential,helpful,no value.ResultsOf 15 SPN and PBM biopsies,7 showed essential pathological findings whichreachedthe etiologicaldiagnosis, including 5definitevasculitis, 1inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy and 1 amyloid neuropathy.Five biopsies are helpful for etiological diagnosis,including demyelinating neuropathy,mild inflammation,and microvascular lesion,et al.Three biopsies are of no value for etiological diagnosis which only have nonspecific change such as type 2 fiber atrophy,neurogenic atrophy and axonal degeneration et al. Finally,SPN and PBM biopsies made the definite etiological diagnosis possible in 12 patients.ConclusionsSPN and PBM biopsy improved the yield of specific pathological and etiological diagnosis of neuropathy and myopathy such as vasculitis and amyloidosis with minor trauma and side effect.Further clinical and pathological studies will be necessary for a better practice of combined nerve and muscle biopsy.

Objective To investigate the significance of orthotopic liver transplantation in the management of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC) ; To evaluate the survival and prognostic factors of liver transplantation for PHC.Method The clinical data from 194 consecutive PHC patients who underwent OLT were retrospectively analyzed.Result The 1-,3-and 5-year cumulative survival rate of the 194 patients was 92.78％,78.07％ and 76.80％ respectively.There were 37 cases of recurrence or metastasis of the tumor with the incidence rate being 19.1％ (37/194).The tumor TNM stage (P=0.026 667),tumor diameter (P =0.0045),tumor number (P =0.0318),vascular invasion (P =0.006 059),and AFP level before transplantation (P =0.003 426) were significantly related with tumor recurrence.Multivariate analysis revealed that tumor diameter (P =0.0081,OR =0.789,95％ CI:2.1233-6.124),vascular invasion (P＜0.001,OR =5.928,95 ％ CI:1.173-86.789),and AFP level before transplantation (P =0.019,OR =2.601,95％ CI:2.196-5.658) were independent risk factors for tumor recurrence.There was statistically significant difference in survival rate and tumor-free survival rate between Milan criteria group and beyond-UCSF criteria group (P＜0.01),and between UCSF criteria group and beyond-UCSF criteria group (P＜0.01).There was no significant difference in survival rate and tumor-free survival rate between Milan criteria group and UCSF criteria group (P ＞0.05).Conclusion Liver transplantation is an effective treatment for PHC.The tumor diameter ＞8 cm,vascular invasion and AFP level significantly affect the survival of PHC patients.