Objective To explore whether pioglitazone can ameliorate radiation-induced fibrosis in rat heart.Methods A total of 46 Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into six groups (control group, pioglitazone (Pio) 10 mg·kg-1 ·d-1 group, Pio 20 mg·kg-1 ·d-1 group, 18 Gy irradiation + placebo group;18 Gy irradiation + Pio 10 mg·kg-1 ·d-1 , and 18 Gy irradiation + Pio 20 mg·kg-1 ·d-1 group).Experimental animals were exposed to radiation at the chest, then administered Pio or placebo for one month.At 3 months later, the rats were killed and their heart tissues were collected for Masson staining, Western blot analysis and real-time polymerase chain reaction assay (real-time PCR).Results Masson staining revealed significant myocardial fibrosis in rats exposed to radiation, while these changes were reduced when the rats were given Pio.Western blot analysis showed that the PPAR-γ protein expression in the heart tissue of irradiated rats were higher than in the non-irradiated group (F =12.435, P ＜ 0.05).Real-time PCR assay showed that PPAR-γ mRNA expression in the irradiation + Pio 20 mg· kg-1· d-1 group was higher than that in the Pio 20 mg· kg-1 ·d-1 group (F =2.333, P ＜ 0.05).The expression of TGF-β1 protein in the irradiation + placebo group were higher than those in the other five groups (F =17.578 ,P ＜0.05), and the CDK5 protein expression had a high level in the three irradiated groups while only the irradiation + placebo group was statistically higher than controls (F =3.651, P ＜ 0.05).Conclusions Pioglitazone may ameliorate radiation fibrosis in the rat heart through its anti-fibrotic activity, perhaps via inhibiting Cdk5-mediated PPAR-γ phosphorylation.

BACKGROUND:There are many positive effects by activation of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ) signal pathway in cardiovascular system. Angiotensin II is closely related with myocardial fibrosis, however, there are few articles demonstrating that the activation of PPARγsignal pathway can weaken the expression of angiotensin II to improve the radiation-induced heart injury. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the effect of angiotensin II type 1 receptor in the rat model of radiation-induced heart injury after PPARγsignal pathway is activated. METHODS:Sixty rats were randomly and equal y divided into five groups:control, pioglitazone, model, radiation+low-dose pioglitazone, radiation+high-dose pioglitazone. In the model, radiation+low-dose pioglitazone, radiation+high-dose pioglitazone groups, rats received 6 MV high energy X-ray irradiation at the range of 1.5 cm × 1.5 cm and the irradiation dose of 300 cGy/min, for 6 hours. Furthermore, rats in the radiation+low-dose pioglitazone and radiation+high-dose pioglitazone groups were given 10 and 20 mg/kg pioglitazone by lavage, for 30 days;rats in the model group were given 2 mL distil ed water. In the pioglitazone group, rats were treated with 10 mg/kg pioglitazone by lavage. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:After rats were treated with pioglitazone, the heart injury and the heart fibrosis in the irradiated rats were decreased. The expressions of angiotensin II type 1 receptor mRNA and protein in the heart tissue were down-regulated. Experimental findings indicate that, pioglitazone intervention downregulates the expression of angiotensin II type 1 receptor in the rat models of radiation-induced heart injury and activation of PPARγsignal pathway al eviates the radiation-induced heart injury.

Objective To investigate and analyze the reasons of fa0ilure in external quality assessment(EQA) for routine chemistry and provide the basis for the corrective and preventive actions.Methods Based on the network system of NCCL EQA the reasons of failure in 2013 national routine chemistry external quality assessment program were investigated,among which the reasons were classified and analyzed with seven sources of problems which were clerical errors,methodological problems,equipment problems,technical problems,EQA materials problems,EQA Evaluation problems and unable to explain after investigation.Results The return rate of this root cause investigation for each analyte ranged from 33.3％ to 80.0％.The major reason for unacceptable analyte included clerical errors (6.5％) (decimal point position error:70.1％;unit error:20.8％;instrument or method coding error:8.1％),methodological problems (45.1％)(calibration:54.2％;reagent:38.0％;EQA material:7.8％),equipment problems (28.5％) (no regular maintenance:98.0％;pipeline error:2.0％),technical problems (8.2％) (do not follow SOP:80.4％;EQA material redissolve error:10.6％;placing order error:9.0％) and unable to explain (11.7％) (system error:68.2％;random error:31.8％).There were no EQA materials problems or EQA Evaluation problems in this survey.Analysis systems' grouping statistics were implemented for seven analytes including sodium,chlorine,phosphorus,direct bilirubin,total iron binding capacity,copper,and zinc.Unsatisfied EQA proportions of mating system were lower than nonmatching ones for the majority of analytes.Conclutions Further work on EQA should be undertaken by clinical laboratories.Laboratories should use reagents with high quality as well as improve the operation technology and sense of responsibility.Only in this way,can the accuracy and reliability of testing results be guaranteed.

Objective To investigate the effects of Candida albicans on the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α)and activation of the intracellular signaling molecule p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase(p38MAPK)in a human acute monocytic leukemia cell line THP-1. Methods Some THP-1 cells were divided into several groups in vitro: two C. albicans groups treated with 105 CFU/ml and 106 CFU/ml heat-killed C. albicans respectively, a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)group treated with 100 μg/L LPS, a blank control group treated with RPMI 1640 medium, two dexamethasone-inhibited groups pretreated with 40 μg/L dexamethasone for 30 minutes followed by treatment with 106 CFU/ml heat-killed C. albicans and LPS respectively. After treatment for 1, 3 and 6 hours, real-time fluorescence-based quantitative PCR was performed to measure TNF-α mRNA expression in THP-1 cells in the above groups. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was conducted to determine the level of TNF-α protein in the supernatant of THP-1 cells treated with 106 CFU/ml heat-killed C. albicans, 100 μg/L LPS or RPMI 1640 medium(blank control group)for 24 hours. Western blot was performed to measure the protein expression of p38MAPK and phosphorylated p38MAPK in THP-1 cells after treatment with 106 CFU/ml heat-killed C. albicans or RPMI 1640 medium (blank control group)for 30 and 60 minutes. Statistical analysis was carried out by using two-way analysis of variance, one-way analysis of variance and the least significant difference(LSD)-t test. Results Significant differences were observed in the mRNA expression level of TNF-α among the C. albicans groups, LPS group and blank control group (F = 110.98, P < 0.001). The mRNA expression level of TNF-α in THP-1 cells increased over time in a time-dependent manner after C. albicans treatment, with significant differences among different time points (F = 701.680, P < 0.001). Compared with the blank control group, both 106-CFU/ml C. albicans group and LPS group showed a significant increase in TNF-α protein expression (6385.70 ± 533.99 ng/L and 3212.06 ± 353.00 ng/L vs. 147.10 ± 0.53 ng/L, P < 0.001 and 0.005, respectively). An obvious increase was observed in the expression level of phosphorylated p38MAPK protein, but no significant changes were noted in that of p38MAPK protein, in THP-1 cells treated with 106 CFU/ml C. albicans for 30 and 60 minutes compared with the blank control group. The mRNA expression level of TNF-α significantly decreased in dexamethasone-pretreated 106-CFU/ml C. albicans group and LPS group compared with those without dexamethasone pretreatment(3.77 ± 0.62 vs. 208.50 ± 10.50, 6.20 ± 1.93 vs. 161.35 ± 1.65, both P < 0.001). Conclusions Heat-killed C. albicans can induce the activation of p38MAPK in and secretion of TNF-α by human THP-1 cells, which then participate in the innate immune response against C. albicans.

Objective To explore the effect of applying personal digital assistant(PDA)in documenting medical orders and monitoring vital signs.Method There was significant diffenence the between two groups in dicumenting,inedical orders,monitoring vital signs(P<0.05).Result BPDA needed significantly shorter time for documenting medical orders and monitoring vital signs than the traditional method(P<0.05).Conclusions PDA may shorten the time for documenting medical orders and monitoring vital signs. It reduces the repetition of nursing routines,optimizes the work flow sheet so that nurses have more time for patients and the quality of nursing is improved.

Atrial Fibrillation ; therapy ; Catheter Ablation ; adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Pulmonary Veins ; Venous Thrombosis ; etiology

OBJECTIVETo observe the effects of blood activating wind dissipating acupuncture (BAWDA) on blood pressure (BP) of prehypertension (PHT) patients.

METHODSTotally 60 PHT patients were assigned to the control group and the acupuncture group according to random digit table, 30 in each group. All patients were intervened by life style. BAWDA was additionally performed in patients in the acupuncture group for 6 weeks (30 times). The improvement of BP after intervened by acupuncture was observed. BP success rates and the proportion of PHT progressing to hypertension (HT) were also observed after 6-week intervention of acupuncture and at 1-year follow-up.

RESULTSSystolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) decreased after 6-week intervention in the acupuncture. The BP control rate was 56.7% (17/30 cases) in the acupuncture group vs.10.0% (3/30 cases) in the control group with statistical difference (chi2 = 14.70, P < 0.01). At 1-year follow-up BP success rate was 36.7% (11/30 cases) in the acupuncture group, remarkably higher than that of the control group [13.3%, (4/30 cases)] (chi2 = 4.36, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSBAWDA showed BP regulating roles in a gradually stable decreasing tendency. It also could elevate BP success rate of PHT, and reduce the risk of PHT progressing to HT.

Acupuncture ; methods ; Acupuncture Therapy ; methods ; Blood Pressure ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Prehypertension ; therapy ; Wind

Objective: To assess the effect of balloon angiopl asty on circulating endothelin (ET) and TNF-α levels and tissue endothelin in experimental atherosclerosis in rabbits. Methods: After 20 New Z ealand rabbits had a high cholesterol diet for at least 8 weeks, successful ball oon angioplasty was performed in rihgt iliac arteries in 18 rabbits. Circulatin g levels of ET and TNF-α were measured before as well as immediately and 24 h after balloon angioplasty. Tissue endothelin immunoreactivity in atherosclerotic iliac artery wall after balloon angioplasty was assessed by immunohistochemica l technique. Results: Plasma levels of ET and TNF-α were signi ficantly increased immediately after ballon angioplasty (76.40±13.58)pg/ml vs (92.67±11.38) pg/ml and (31.35±6.23) U/ml vs (56.26±7.37) U/ml, resp ectively (P<0.05) .There was no change in plasma ET and TNF-α levels 24 h after balloon angioplasty (77.13±12.87) pg/ml vs (76.40±13.58) pg/ml and (33.41±6.79) U/ml vs (31.35±6.23) U/ml， respectively (P>0.05). T issue endothelin immunoreactiuvity was markedly increased in right iliac artery wall after balloon angioplasty than that in opposite iliac artery wall. Conclusion: The increase of plasma ET, TNF-α levels and tissue ET-IR in iliac artery wall after balloon angioplasty may be associated with the injury of l ocal vascular intima, suggesting that ET and TNF-α may take part in the corona ry constriction and the development of coronary restenosis after percutaneous tr ansluminal coronary angioplasty.

Objective To evaluate effects of the yeast form of Sporothrix schenckii on activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) and expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in macrophagelike THP-1 cells,which were differentiated from the human acute monocytic leukemia cell line THP-1.Methods THP-1 macrophage-like cells were divided into 3 groups to be treated with the yeast form of Sporothrix schenckii at a concentration of 2 × 106 colony-forming units (CFU)/ml (yeast form group),100 mg/L curdlan (curdlan group) and RPMI 1640 medium (blank control group) respectively.Real-time fluorescence-based quantitative PCR was performed to measure the mRNA expression of IL-6 in THP-1 macrophage-like cells in the above 3 groups after 3-and 6-hour treatment separately,and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect the level of IL-6 in the culture supernatant of THP-1 macrophagelike cells after 24-hour treatment.Western blot analysis was conducted to determine the protein expression of p38MAPK and phosphorylated p38MAPK (p-p38MAPK) in the above 3 groups after 30-and 60-minute treatment separately.Other THP-1 macrophage-like cells were pretreated with 100 nmol/L dexamcthasonc (a p38MAPK inhibitor) for 30 minutes,and then were divided into 3 groups to be treated with the yeast form of Sporothrix schenckii,curdlan and RPMI 1640 medium respectively,and changes in the level of pp38MAPK and mRNA expression of IL-6 were also detected.Statistical analysis was carried out with SPSS19.0 software by using one-way or multi-way analysis of variance and least significant difference (LSD) test.Results Significant differences in the mRNA expression of IL-6 in THP-1 macrophage-like cells were observed among the yeast form group,curdlan group and blank control group (F =5 552.22,P ＜0.001) after 3-hour treatment (56.81 ± 7.36,26.69 ± 1.22 and 0.97 ± 0.05,respectively) and 6-hour treatment (378.03 ± 16.67,276.24 ± 39.13 and 1.02 ± 0.04,respectively).Additionally,the yeast form group showed significantly higher mRNA expression of IL-6 after 6-hour treatment than that after 3-hour treatment (q =16.74,P ＜ 0.001).After 24-hour treatment,the level of IL-6 in the culture supernatant of THP-1 macrophage-like cells also significantly differed among the yeast form group,curdlan group and blank control group (59.96 ± 18.16 pg/L,91.01 ± 17.27 pg/L,5.50 ± 2.30 pg/L,respectively;F =26.62,P ＜ 0.01),and was significantly higher in the yeast form group than in the blank control group (P ＜ 0.01).After 30-and 60-minute treatment,the protein expression of p-p38MAPK was significantly higher in the yeast form group than in the blank control group (both P ＜ 0.01).Moreover,the mRNA expression of IL-6 (4.46 ± 1.03 vs.493.52 ± 113.87,P ＜ 0.001) and protein expression of p-p38MAPK (2.29 ± 0.37 vs.4.55 ±0.46,q =10.81,P ＜ 0.01) were both significantly lower in the yeast form group with dexamethasone pretreatment than in that without dexamethasone pretreatment.Conclusion In vitro treatment with the yeast form of Sporothrix schenckii can enhance the expression of IL-6 in human THP-1 macrophage-like cells by activating the p38MAPK signaling pathway.

Objective: To investigate whether serum level of carbohydrate antigen-125 (CA-125) could predict the new-onset of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Methods: A total of 200 CHF patients without previous and current AF admitted in our hospital from 2012-01 to 2016-01 were enrolled. Serum level of CA-125 was examined in all patients at their stable condition. Follow-up study was conducted to observe AF occurrence in order to evaluate the relationship between CA-125 level and new-onset of AF. Results: There were 8 patients died within 6 months, 14 lost contact and 178 finished at least 1 time follow-up at the mean of (20.1±9.9) months (from 6 to 54 months). 40/178 (22％) patients developed new-onset of AF. Compared with sinus rhythm, AF patients had the higher CA-125 level as 108 (44-228) U/ml vs 49 (21-118) U/ml, P=0.001. ROC indicated that CA-125>72.58 U/ml was the optimal cut-off value for predicting new-onset of AF. Single factor analysis indicated that serum CA-125>72.58 U/ml, increased left atrial diameter, right ventricular dilatation, pulmonary hypertension, lower LVEF and moderate to severe mitral regurgitation (MR) had the predictive value for new-onset of AF. With adjusted meaningful single factors, multivariate Cox regression analysis presented that serum CA-125>72.58 U/ml (HR=2.709, 95％ CI 1.308-6.876, P=0.008) and moderate to severe MR were the independent predictors for new-onset of AF. Conclusion: Serum CA-125 level was related to new-onset of AF in CHF patients; the patients with elevated CA-125 had the higher chance to develop new-onset of AF.